Apparently I haven’t logged in lately…

Um, what happened to wordpress?!?! Ack!

Apparently I have no original thoughts today

I mentioned Andrew Peterson’s latest a few posts ago…the album is entitled Resurrection Letters, Vol. 2. I hadn’t heard a thing about it, hadn’t heard a single note. Andrew Peterson is one of those artists whose music I will buy, no matter what. (Others in that category -Chris Rice, Nichole Nordeman, MWS, Amy Grant…those kinda folks). The intro in the liner notes touched me deeply. I long for this hunger!

From the liner notes, Resurrection Letters, Vol. 2 - Andrew Peterson (2008)

He came back.

After that brutal Friday, and that long, quiet Saturday, he came back.

And that one intake of breath in the tomb changes everything. It changes the very reason I drew breath today and the way I move about in this world because I believe he’s coming back again. The world has gone on for more than two millennia since Jesus’ feet tread the earth he made. What would they have said back then if someone had told them that some two thousand years later we’d still be waiting? They would’ve thought back to that long Saturday and said, “Two thousand years will seem like a breath to you when you finally lay your crown at his feet. We don’t even remember what we were doing on that Saturday, but let me tell you about Sunday morning. Now that was something.”

These many years of waiting will only be a sentence in the story. This long day will come to an end, and I believe it will end in glory, when we will shine like suns and stride the green hills with those we love and the One who loves. We will look with our new eyes and speak with our new tongues and turn to each other and say, “Do you remember the waiting? The long years, the bitter pain, the gnawing doubt, the relentless ache?” And like Mary at the tomb, we will say: “I remember only the light, and the voice calling my name, and the overwhelming joy that the waiting was finally over.”

The stone will be rolled away for each of us.

May we wait with faithful hearts.

I just was not feelin’ it.

That last theme. I could not get in the groove. Every time I signed in, I thought, “Oh yeah, I changed the theme. I hate it!” I cannot figure out how to be fancy, though – fancy tops and sides and pictures of my kiddo and all that other stuff. Is it something I have to pay for? I’ll keep looking…

Surprise!

A new theme. OK, a new theme, and four posts in one night. Trying to make up for my delinquency earlier. This theme feels peaceful. Hopefully not equal to boring.

Here I am, up late

and nary a gold medal to show for it! Who doesn’t miss the Olympics? Man, I could watch swimming every night. Rowdy, Al, Michael P….miss you all!

C had an okay day at preschool today. B & I had small group tonight so C went over to her Great-Aunt & Uncle’s house for a bit. She had a terribly un-balanced dinner but her appetite in the evenings tends to be quite weak…until offered a hot fudge sundae at Uncle Randy’s house!

Our weekend was filled with zero exotic adventures. On Saturday, I never even left the house (pretty environmentally minded of me!). Sunday I went to church and then we swam some in the afternoon. Summer is definitely winding down, and tonight feels like fall is on its way. Every time the seasons change, I try to pick which is my favorite season. So for now, with September approaching, it’s gotta be fall. There is nothing like Fall in the Midwest…seasons are one of my very most favorite things about Ohio, and probably always will be. There are some things I will always miss about Florida (let’s see how I feel about this next February!), but I do love a crisp fall evening as a Buckeye.

Thankful Thursdays

second list of the day…here goes:

1.  In spite of repeated rain forecasts, our weather this week has been spectacular.  Sidewalk chalk, tricycle rides, and the coolest neighborhood in the world.

2.  Devil’s food cake 

3.  Online bill paying…I’m not going to need to order checks for like the next 3 years.

4.  I didn’t really have dinner tonight.  I needed another little chunk of devil’s food cake to top me off.

5.  Our trip to Hilton Head is only about 7 weeks away.

6.  I didn’t have a sister growing up, but I now enjoy a fantastic relationship with my sister-in-law.  She’s a super special person in my life.

7.  The preschool we were hoping for C to attend has a spot for her for the fall.  The thought of dropping her off thrills me and makes me want to burst into tears at the same time.

8.  I got to hold two of the sweetest little babies ever this morning – just 2 days old and a smidge over 5 pounds each. And to think, I knew them way back when they were just 8 cells each.

9.  I found this really fun program online called picnik.com that has all kinds of photo tools/touch-ups.  I just happen to have a marvelous favorite subject, the Bear, and every picture comes out so cool!

10.  The Office is back.  Need I say more?

Fishing expedition!

And we’re off…

Florida, here we come.  Off to see Grammy & Grandpa M.  C could not be more excited…milkshakes await!! Fishing trips, outings in the Big Red Car.  I’m sure the week will be full.  It will be nice to have the extra help with CB – who knows, maybe this mom will relax just a tad!

Celebration time, come on!

It’s that time of year again, and we are making the most of it. We have been blessed to share lots of time with friends and family so far. Last night was B’s extended family Christmas…my tenth, I think, and probably one of the better ones that I’ve been to. Instead of eating by the glow of the latest college basketball game, we actually – wait for it – sat and talked. Interacted with one another – lots of fun. C had a marvelous time with her 2nd cousins – age almost-10 and 11. She would do anything they wanted her to do, in stark contrast to anything I ask her to do. B’s cousins have all grown and matured in various ways and we had a great time.

Tonight we shared some great time with our friends next door. Every once in a while I sit and marvel at how blessed we were to end up here next door to them. Wife-next-door and I pulled off the great Christmas surprise of 2007 in presenting B & husband-next-door with …a snowblower. We feel certain that guarantees little to no snowfall for at least the next three years, so we feel like it’s money well spent.

Now then, on to tomorrow…lunch out with friends, and our Christmas Eve tradition with B’s parents and some close family friends. It is more fun this year than the last because C is able to have so much fun with it. And I’m not even talking about the presents or lists or anticipation of Santa, who we don’t emphasize here…she can enjoy the things we enjoy which is being with those we love. She’s a great age for all this fun stuff. And, as hard evidence that my constant emphasis of the celebration of Jesus’ birth and de-emphasis of Santa and all things related has been successful…as we looked at the next-to-last window on our Advent calendar (which just happens to have a small chocolate behind each window), C told me that we are celebrating Jesus’ birthday “so tell Jesus that Jesus can have candy now.” Mission accomplished.

Weekend update

Turns out I’m not great at keeping up with the blog.  Every day, I think, “Nothing remarkable to blog about today.”  But isn’t that the great thing about blogging…doesn’t have to be remarkable.  JUST DO IT!  Much to my dismay, C participated in the age-old tradition – trick or treat – on Saturday night.  I have mixed feelings on Halloween in general (well, mostly negative, I guess) and was reluctant to ‘do’ anything Halloween-related. I’m continuing to do research and look at some Biblical resources given to me by a friend.  Things may change in coming years.

We enjoyed some crisp fall weather today while B was at the Bengals game.  C even did okay at Sunday school today – drop-offs have been strained the past couple weeks.  She is starting to get geared up for her birthday, because she realizes is closer to becoming a big kid!