Yesterday, Grandpa and I had a very serious discussion about whether or not we were adults (see post below). Today, the title for his daily devotional was "Time to Grow Up." :P
Y. from hospice gave Grandpa some fun stuff today, including 2 hand-held pinball games. "Why two?" Grandpa wanted to know. I said, "So we can play at the same time and see who wins." Grandpa replied as if it were obvious, "Well I will."
Y. also gave Gpa a plastic guy with a parachute that you throw down a staircase or whatever and he floats down. As soon as Grandpa got his hands on it, he held it like a slingshot and aimed it at me! The man had just woken up from a nap and was still a bit groggy!!! I've got to up my game.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
favorites from the day so far - 08/19/10
High-school-age kid walking home with 4-5 Kindergarten-sized kids on a neighborhood street (no sidewalks). Everybody holding hands, big kid walking slow and looking around, pulling little kids to the side when a car comes - wonderful!
Grandpa's smile and laughter, his telling me he's glad I'm coming early tomorrow, his out-of-the-blue question:
"Are we adults?"
me - "I don't know. Do we act like adults?"
(laughter) "No!"
"I don't think so, either."
Greater sense of God's presence and love today, and of being more well, more whole.
Grandpa's smile and laughter, his telling me he's glad I'm coming early tomorrow, his out-of-the-blue question:
"Are we adults?"
me - "I don't know. Do we act like adults?"
(laughter) "No!"
"I don't think so, either."
Greater sense of God's presence and love today, and of being more well, more whole.
life 08/19/10
Okay, I've got to get back into writing here more often. I got lost in the egotistical everything-I-post-has-to-be-Pulitzer-Prize-quality, and I forgot how much it helps me just to get stuff down.
Chester's discovered that he loves cicadas. They make a great bedtime snack. He races to the back door when it's time to "go potty" and, at night, noses out the poor, minding-my-own-business creatures, wagging his tail as they buzz buzz buzz before he goes crunch crunch crunch. Unfortunately for Chester, they're onto him now, and there haven't been any by the door for several days, though you can hear them in the yard. On one of the first days he did this, I was fascinated to see the cicadas act as a community - he was going after a few on the porch, so several others came down off the house and dive bombed him, trying desperately to save their own. But Chester's jaws were too much for them, and it ended up being a kamikaze mission.
Was blessed last week while walking the dogs and heard a shouted "Hello!" Turned to see a neighbor girl we've met waving and smiling at us.
Was setting up Grandpa's birthday cards last week and, on the last one, knocked down a bunch of them in the middle - they went down like dominoes. I looked at Grandpa, and he cracked up. When I pulled my hand back to begin picking them up, I knocked down more. Gpa loved it.
Gpa also got a big kick out of the whipped cream spitting out of the can all over my shirt. It'd happened before, so this time I just walked over to Gpa and showed him my shirt, smiling but not saying anything. He cracked up again, and when I told him it was all over the counter too, he said, "Maybe I should tell your mother about this." (That I'm a klutz.) She already knows.
Enjoyed a bubbles fight with Gpa - our favorite lady from hospice gave them to him for his b-day (along with a remote-control car that he likes to crash into people). At one point he said, "You've got the advantage because you're higher." (I was standing, he was sitting in his chair.) I considered the odds even, though, since I was getting more of his spit on me than actual bubbles. On Monday, the hospice lady said Grandpa asked her, "Bring more bubbles."
The other day Grandpa pointed to several wooden models we had put together, and said, "If you drove that sports car you'd probably crash into the helicopter" (which was next to it). I picked up the car and crashed it into him. One of my (and other family members') frequent "chores" is to put things where Grandpa wants them and arrange them to his liking. The day after the "car crash" he pointed to the models again and said, "The sports car is too close to the old car" (Model T or A). I turned to look, and the cars were as far apart from each other as they could get, brushing up against the models on either side of them. When I turned back to look at Grandpa, he had a big grin on his face. I (gently) hit him in the head with a pillow.
I was cutting out a newspaper article for Gpa to save recently, when he said, "Your Royals beat my Yankees." Once I recovered from the shock, I cheered. "I knew you'd do that," he said. I said, "We should cut out and save the article about the baseball game, too!" "Phooey!" was his response.
Still getting used to the idea of moving and finding other arrangements for the dogs. Some days it's hard to even begin to think about, on others I know I need to do it. Who knows what'll happen - I need to stop worrying.
Praying for people all over the world who are homeless, foodless, sick, etc. due to natural disasters or other circumstances. Praying for them to have peace and strength, and the things they need. Giving thanks for my own circumstances.
Ps. 23, NJB:
Yahweh is my (our) shepherd, we lack nothing.
In grassy meadows he lets us lie.
By tranquil streams he leads us to restore our spirit.
He guides us in paths of saving justice as befits his name.
Even were we to walk in a ravine as dark as death we should fear no danger, for you are at our side.
Your staff and your crook are there to soothe us.
You prepare a table for us under the eyes of our enemies;
you anoint our heads with oil; our cups brim over.
Kindness and faithful love pursue us every day of our lives.
We make our home in the house of Yahweh for all time to come.
Chester's discovered that he loves cicadas. They make a great bedtime snack. He races to the back door when it's time to "go potty" and, at night, noses out the poor, minding-my-own-business creatures, wagging his tail as they buzz buzz buzz before he goes crunch crunch crunch. Unfortunately for Chester, they're onto him now, and there haven't been any by the door for several days, though you can hear them in the yard. On one of the first days he did this, I was fascinated to see the cicadas act as a community - he was going after a few on the porch, so several others came down off the house and dive bombed him, trying desperately to save their own. But Chester's jaws were too much for them, and it ended up being a kamikaze mission.
Was blessed last week while walking the dogs and heard a shouted "Hello!" Turned to see a neighbor girl we've met waving and smiling at us.
Was setting up Grandpa's birthday cards last week and, on the last one, knocked down a bunch of them in the middle - they went down like dominoes. I looked at Grandpa, and he cracked up. When I pulled my hand back to begin picking them up, I knocked down more. Gpa loved it.
Gpa also got a big kick out of the whipped cream spitting out of the can all over my shirt. It'd happened before, so this time I just walked over to Gpa and showed him my shirt, smiling but not saying anything. He cracked up again, and when I told him it was all over the counter too, he said, "Maybe I should tell your mother about this." (That I'm a klutz.) She already knows.
Enjoyed a bubbles fight with Gpa - our favorite lady from hospice gave them to him for his b-day (along with a remote-control car that he likes to crash into people). At one point he said, "You've got the advantage because you're higher." (I was standing, he was sitting in his chair.) I considered the odds even, though, since I was getting more of his spit on me than actual bubbles. On Monday, the hospice lady said Grandpa asked her, "Bring more bubbles."
The other day Grandpa pointed to several wooden models we had put together, and said, "If you drove that sports car you'd probably crash into the helicopter" (which was next to it). I picked up the car and crashed it into him. One of my (and other family members') frequent "chores" is to put things where Grandpa wants them and arrange them to his liking. The day after the "car crash" he pointed to the models again and said, "The sports car is too close to the old car" (Model T or A). I turned to look, and the cars were as far apart from each other as they could get, brushing up against the models on either side of them. When I turned back to look at Grandpa, he had a big grin on his face. I (gently) hit him in the head with a pillow.
I was cutting out a newspaper article for Gpa to save recently, when he said, "Your Royals beat my Yankees." Once I recovered from the shock, I cheered. "I knew you'd do that," he said. I said, "We should cut out and save the article about the baseball game, too!" "Phooey!" was his response.
Still getting used to the idea of moving and finding other arrangements for the dogs. Some days it's hard to even begin to think about, on others I know I need to do it. Who knows what'll happen - I need to stop worrying.
Praying for people all over the world who are homeless, foodless, sick, etc. due to natural disasters or other circumstances. Praying for them to have peace and strength, and the things they need. Giving thanks for my own circumstances.
Ps. 23, NJB:
Yahweh is my (our) shepherd, we lack nothing.
In grassy meadows he lets us lie.
By tranquil streams he leads us to restore our spirit.
He guides us in paths of saving justice as befits his name.
Even were we to walk in a ravine as dark as death we should fear no danger, for you are at our side.
Your staff and your crook are there to soothe us.
You prepare a table for us under the eyes of our enemies;
you anoint our heads with oil; our cups brim over.
Kindness and faithful love pursue us every day of our lives.
We make our home in the house of Yahweh for all time to come.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
weed
no, not that kind...
Yes, this is a post about a weed. Yes, I am bored. But it is also about paying attention, waiting, and allowing yourself to be surprised, to have your assumptions proved wrong.
I've mentioned the weeds in my back yard that scare me. Flat on the ground, they're foot-wide, dark green, fuzzy tarantulas. They get even more sinister as they grow taller. But that wasn't the end of the story. Turns out, if you wait long enough (several weeks), you will also discover that they bloom, and their flowers aren't too bad. Some kind of thistle? Still not the prettiest I've ever seen, but they're a lot better than they were. Moral: never judge a weed by its fur.
Yes, this is a post about a weed. Yes, I am bored. But it is also about paying attention, waiting, and allowing yourself to be surprised, to have your assumptions proved wrong.
I've mentioned the weeds in my back yard that scare me. Flat on the ground, they're foot-wide, dark green, fuzzy tarantulas. They get even more sinister as they grow taller. But that wasn't the end of the story. Turns out, if you wait long enough (several weeks), you will also discover that they bloom, and their flowers aren't too bad. Some kind of thistle? Still not the prettiest I've ever seen, but they're a lot better than they were. Moral: never judge a weed by its fur.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
the retreat - day 6 - Jan. 13, 2008 - reflection on my call
From journal:
Interesting to see God's love and respect for these men and who they were - God reveals himself and communicates with them accordingly.
God to me: stop questioning whether or not it is my voice that you hear when I speak to you, and start writing out, expressing, living out my words.
It's okay.
I love you.
Do not be afraid. I am with you.
"All shall be well,
all shall be well,
all manner of things shall be well."
my response: Oh God, the God of my life, I love you. I am awed by you - your holiness, your integrity, your love for yourself/selves and for your creation.
Interesting to see God's love and respect for these men and who they were - God reveals himself and communicates with them accordingly.
God to me: stop questioning whether or not it is my voice that you hear when I speak to you, and start writing out, expressing, living out my words.
It's okay.
I love you.
Do not be afraid. I am with you.
"All shall be well,
all shall be well,
all manner of things shall be well."
my response: Oh God, the God of my life, I love you. I am awed by you - your holiness, your integrity, your love for yourself/selves and for your creation.
the retreat - day 6 - Jan. 13, 2008 - Jeremiah's call
From journal:
Jeremiah 1:4-9 - the call of Jeremiah
Who he was: priest, would remain unwed and without children at God's command/warning, introspective, honest and comfortable/familiar with God to an extent, later: sad, insecure
Nature of the call: loving, tender, that of a caregiver - Ps. 139 - I knew you and I set you apart before you even existed, before you even became aware of yourself - be a prophet to the nations
Jeremiah's response: "Ah, Sovereign Lord...." You can almost hear the wheels turning in J's mind, backpedalling, whoa whoa whoa, I know what happens to prophets around here, I should have checked caller ID - I don't know how, I'm too young
God: dismisses J's age objection as if with a wave of his hand - "Don't say..." - you must go to everyone I send you and say everything I command you - simple, broad instructions, as if to a child? - do not be afraid of them, I am with you, and I will rescue you - then touched J's mouth - I have put my words in your mouth and I appoint you...
God responds to Jeremiah's unspoken fear for his safety as well.
Jeremiah 1:4-9 - the call of Jeremiah
Who he was: priest, would remain unwed and without children at God's command/warning, introspective, honest and comfortable/familiar with God to an extent, later: sad, insecure
Nature of the call: loving, tender, that of a caregiver - Ps. 139 - I knew you and I set you apart before you even existed, before you even became aware of yourself - be a prophet to the nations
Jeremiah's response: "Ah, Sovereign Lord...." You can almost hear the wheels turning in J's mind, backpedalling, whoa whoa whoa, I know what happens to prophets around here, I should have checked caller ID - I don't know how, I'm too young
God: dismisses J's age objection as if with a wave of his hand - "Don't say..." - you must go to everyone I send you and say everything I command you - simple, broad instructions, as if to a child? - do not be afraid of them, I am with you, and I will rescue you - then touched J's mouth - I have put my words in your mouth and I appoint you...
God responds to Jeremiah's unspoken fear for his safety as well.
Portrait of Jeremiah by Rembrandt
the retreat - day 6 - Jan. 13, 2008 - Isaiah's call
From journal:
Isaiah 6:1-8 - the call of Isaiah:
Who he was: ? - not sure, but a son is mentioned in 7:3 and he conceives a son in 8:1-3
Nature of call: HOLINESS! vision of God on throne, his robe filled the temple, seraphim calling God holy, doorposts and thresholds shook, temple filled with smoke
Isaiah's response: Woe is me, for I have seen God, and I (my lips) am unclean and live among unclean people!
God: sent a seraphim to touch Isaiah's lips with a burning coal - now your guilt is gone, your sin is atoned for - whom shall I send? Who will go for us? ("us" instead of "me" - trinity)
Isaiah: "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah doesn't even know what he's volunteering for yet.)
God: says with irony - go tell (your own) people, the people you live among, to repent and be healed (they won't)
Isaiah: "For how long?" No hesitation to obey.
God: until this land is utterly forsaken
in this passage, Isaiah is overcome with awe and eagerness
Isaiah 6:1-8 - the call of Isaiah:
Who he was: ? - not sure, but a son is mentioned in 7:3 and he conceives a son in 8:1-3
Nature of call: HOLINESS! vision of God on throne, his robe filled the temple, seraphim calling God holy, doorposts and thresholds shook, temple filled with smoke
Isaiah's response: Woe is me, for I have seen God, and I (my lips) am unclean and live among unclean people!
God: sent a seraphim to touch Isaiah's lips with a burning coal - now your guilt is gone, your sin is atoned for - whom shall I send? Who will go for us? ("us" instead of "me" - trinity)
Isaiah: "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah doesn't even know what he's volunteering for yet.)
God: says with irony - go tell (your own) people, the people you live among, to repent and be healed (they won't)
Isaiah: "For how long?" No hesitation to obey.
God: until this land is utterly forsaken
in this passage, Isaiah is overcome with awe and eagerness
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