STRAY THOUGHTS

Even a card-carrying Christian can have stray thoughts not covered by Bible verses or Sunday sermons. Sometimes my small knowledge of physics and science combine with my sense of curiosity to come up with some good ones. For instance: Scientists cannot find a majority of the mass in the universe; they call it dark matter. What if God is the dark matter? Holding the universe together.
God created us in His image: OK, do I think it means arms and legs, etc? Maybe. But more so, I feel it means how we are on the inside, mind, soul and body. The holy trinity. In the Garden of Eden there were limits on human perceptions until the apple incident. The apple changed how Adam and Eve viewed themselves and the world. Like God, humanity has the capability of doing infinite good and unlike Him, we can do infinite evil.
You'd think I have too much time on my hands. My friends can vouch for me that is not the case. :) Stay strong, be blessed.

DREAMS

Dreams are the stuff magic is made of, or so they say. They can be good for the soul. Daydreams can let the imagination soar to the ends of the universe and beyond. Dreams can be imagined "what if's," choices not made, roads not taken. Dreams can be of things yet to come or still hoped for in days ahead. Some would have us to believe that it is the belief only that brings the dream to fruition. I am a little more practical. I think it takes more than just the working of the mind. At least for us humans. As I told my children often as they were growing up and expected miracles from their mother, "I gave up my psychic powers when I took my human form. " :) And there is the dark side to dreams as well. Some dreams are not meant to come true. Dreams that would cause more damage than good, though we can't see it in our limited perspective. Selfish dreams, dark dreams. Everyone does not have dreams that are bright and full of light. Yet in their own way dreams are real. They are a part of each of us in a way I doubt any of us fully understand. Part of the shadow-land, the in-between. Maybe they are a treasure or a puzzle still to be solved?

Fruit of the Spirit

I was reading a scripture verse the other day and was again reminded what some of the traits are that show fruit of the Spirit. I am not a gentle person. I have known this my entire life. I speak up, sometimes even before I should. I am not unkind, although I had to work on curbing my sarcasm as the years went on. I have known a few gentle people. There are some in my life currently. Like Rebecca and Don, they are gentle and kind and loving people who are wonderful to know. They are also intelligent and gracious and generous and creative as well. Mrs. Day who used to work where I went to work was a wonderfully gentle soul. There was always a smile upon her lips no matter the challenge of the day. And Judy, she worked with me also at another job. For several years I watched her grow and change to an ever more gracious and beautiful person. Although she and I have not worked together in many years, we still bump into each other from time to time, and she is still as gentle and sweet as ever. These people are my heroes, the folks I look up to and admire. I pray for God's blessings on them each day.

PRAISE THE LORD!!

Just on a whim, we turned into Charles Boyd Chevrolet in Henderson, NC to look at their used cars the other day. This wonderful saleslady, Mrs. Cynthia Johnson, walked over to help us before we ever got out of our van. After talking to us for a few minutes she assured us she either had something on the lot to meet our needs or could acquire it for us soon. She seemed sincere. She went to look around as we parked. We had finally decided on a Chevy Trailblazer, despite the rising gas prices, because it would be good for camping. She showed us a couple which were over our set price range then went in to see if others were available on their second lot. Not long after she came out and said they had just gotten in a trade in, local one owner, low mileage, year and price in our range. She went to the back and drove it up. My husband test drove the vehicle. He said it drove like a dream and had all the bells and whistles we wanted, including the tow package for camping. We, along with Mrs. Johnson, agreed that it seemed that the Lord's hand was in the deal when we were able to compromise on the price and get the vehicle we needed and wanted. It was the most wonderful experience we had ever had at any car dealership. Our thanks go to Brian Boyd and Mrs. Johnson both, and of course to the Lord!

USED CAR SHOPPING

Did you think computers and all that information made car shopping easier? Not! There is too much information, much of it conflicting. Finally when I completed my research and decided on a couple of models, I found everyone else wanted them too. So they are scare. Perseverance! At least with my family the actual visits to the car lots are not boring. On one drive through in our local town, my husband had thought of a way to keep from hopping out of our car to read the stickers on the car windows. He brought a pair of opera glasses, of course these were really small camouflage binoculars from I am not asking where or when. As we stopped near an interesting vehicle, I saw him pick up these and I asked him to please not look like a total redneck as there were other people walking around in the lot. He just laughed and put them down till they walked by then continued to try and focus them. My son in the back seat piped up with, "No Mom, real redneck binoculars are made out of two empty toilet paper rolls tied with string and plastic wrap taped to the front and back ends!" So at least we had a chuckle at the end of our tiring day. :)

NEW YEAR'S EVE

Last year New Year's Eve was a quiet family affair. We were home with our son, and one of our married daughters and her husband. We had enjoyed playing cards and games at the kitchen table while waiting for midnight. At around 11:30 pm we went into the living room to watch TV and see Dick Clark celebrate being alive another year. We had our sparkling grape juice to toast with, as our son is only 14, and we waited as the clock counted down to end 2006. After the quick toast, the two couples gave each other a kiss. While kissing, we all heard our son's deep voice in the background in a tone reminiscent of Eeyore slowly saying, "I need a girlfriend!" We all cracked up! Since then whenever times get too quiet or dull, we repeat the phrase and enjoy a new chuckle. I hope 2007 is a blessed year for you and yours. May God's love be with you.

THE MISADVENTURES OF PAPA IN THE BATHROOM

How this blog came about. My husband is a very private person. (Those who know him will realize what an understatement this is. :) I tease him all the time. Anything he does out of the ordinary, he always threatens me with "You better not tell anybody about this!" I am not a very private person, or we would not be here right? So, once in a while I tell our kids one of the funny things their Dad had done or messed up, etc. much to his chagrin. He along with millions of American men think of the bathroom as "the reading room." Well, in our little bathroom next to our bedroom, the vanity is evidently comfortably close to the throne. On some of his middle of the night trips, Papa manages to fall asleep with his head resting on the edge of the vanity. You can imagine what a dent he wakes up with in his forehead! The first time I repeated this to the kids I know he wanted to sink under the table. But the laughter was contagious and he just had to join in. One day we went into Wal-Mart Vision center because his glasses frames had broken. Our budget was rather tight at the time; so, he was afraid of the cost of having to get a complete new set of glasses. The lady assisted us and found a frame that matched his. When she walked away to repair the glasses, I looked over and Papa was almost teary eyed with joy because he could get his glasses that day. I started laughing and he immediately said, "Don't you dare tell anyone!" I looked at him and said, "I am not only going to tell someone, I am going to tell EVERYONE!!!" So, now I have. :)