I hear so many people speak about how they are jaded by "religion" Or those that go to church out of guilt. This makes me so sad and really hurts my heart.
The God I know is not a God of guilt but a God of forgivness, love and grace.
The God I know does not condenm but is a God who "dared to give it all away for me"
I just find it so sad when I see hearts that have turned from God or hearts that have never even attempted to know Him. The freedom, the joy. A life is better lived when you realize that you belong to this God of Wonders.
I don't know how to change a heart, how to soften ones mind to God. Only God knows. I can only pray for my friends and family. The rest is up to God.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
What I Learned on My Vacation
Well, the long awaited vacation is finally over. It was a week of ups and downs. I have come home and come to many realizations. Here they are in no particular order:
1. The ocean is awful smelly. Having never been to the ocean as an adult, I was a bit surprised when we got off the highway and I got a whiff of the "ocean air." I asked Greg, where is the dump. I was looking for the landfill, when Greg told me that is was the ocean I was smelling. I really hoped he was kidding. Not!!! Even now I can't seem to get the stench off of my things.
2. Kids get really really tired on vacation and 19 month olds are really meant to stay home.
3. I can get by with less makeup. Not on my face of course. I just don't need 25 lipsticks all at one time. I can get by with 2 or 3!
4. Sand and diapers don't mix.
5. Waiting 2 hours for a meal is a waste of time. I will take my mom's spaghetti over a "good" restaurant any day.
6. The greatest truth I learned while away is that you should not look forward to vacation to escape. I did not relax or find the peace I have heard people find (or say) they find on vacation. My real true peace is found in my everyday life. I will take a great church service, a good book, dinner on my deck, or even breakfast at McDonald's any day. These are my true escapes.
The 2 hour church service I attended yesterday does not even come close to a week away. Thinking about God and all of his promises transported me to a peace that money cannot buy. God's promises are for everyday life. I will not wait until I go on some fake vacation to a fake place to be the me I was intended to be. "Vacation Karen" will just be "Plain old everyday Karen"
Oh and one last point: don't forget the eye cream in your suitcase. You really will miss it!
1. The ocean is awful smelly. Having never been to the ocean as an adult, I was a bit surprised when we got off the highway and I got a whiff of the "ocean air." I asked Greg, where is the dump. I was looking for the landfill, when Greg told me that is was the ocean I was smelling. I really hoped he was kidding. Not!!! Even now I can't seem to get the stench off of my things.
2. Kids get really really tired on vacation and 19 month olds are really meant to stay home.
3. I can get by with less makeup. Not on my face of course. I just don't need 25 lipsticks all at one time. I can get by with 2 or 3!
4. Sand and diapers don't mix.
5. Waiting 2 hours for a meal is a waste of time. I will take my mom's spaghetti over a "good" restaurant any day.
6. The greatest truth I learned while away is that you should not look forward to vacation to escape. I did not relax or find the peace I have heard people find (or say) they find on vacation. My real true peace is found in my everyday life. I will take a great church service, a good book, dinner on my deck, or even breakfast at McDonald's any day. These are my true escapes.
The 2 hour church service I attended yesterday does not even come close to a week away. Thinking about God and all of his promises transported me to a peace that money cannot buy. God's promises are for everyday life. I will not wait until I go on some fake vacation to a fake place to be the me I was intended to be. "Vacation Karen" will just be "Plain old everyday Karen"
Oh and one last point: don't forget the eye cream in your suitcase. You really will miss it!
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Haircut
Here it is. The day my hair looked better then it ever did. Notice the look of joy upon my face!
My hair had never, ever looked so good. My hair will never look this good again.
Seriously, I went and had it shampooed, cut, and styled. Since I was trying a new hair stylist I was a bit nervous. Her name was Bobby Jo, she really seemed to know her stuff. She talked to me about texture, straightening, razor cutting. I was mesmerized.
When she was finished I could not believe my eyes. Finally I had been transformed. I was a beauty, ready for the red carpet. This was how I was always meant to look. I complimented Bobby Jo, telling her she was the best. I tipped, I gushed, I told her I would send all my friends. I left the salon feeling better then I have ever felt.
But deep inside I knew it was fleeting. Would I be able to make it look this good at home? To ensure success I had Greg take pictures, memories to look at. A guide, a hair handbook.
Well, I was never able to replicate the exact look that Bobby Jo had so expertly achieved. I referred to the photos, I straightened, applied products, sprayed and gelled. To no avail, I could not get it to look the same. But I was still pleased, it was such an awesome cut and so I lived with the anticipation of returning to Bobby Jo's chair and her expert hands. Well, after about 3 weeks I returned and so did my hair, to it's former state. Frizzy unmanageable, and puffy. Bobby Jo did all the same things, shampooed, cut and styled and well, I guess magic can only happen once in a lifetime.
Why can't a hair stylist ever replicate the magic. Why is a hair style never better then the first time it is cut. Where does the magic go?
And now a moment of silence as I mourn my hair.
Enjoy these pictures. I will look at them and try not to shed too many tears.
Friday, June 27, 2008
No Staring Please!
Why is a kicking, screaming child who won't get into a grocery cart something people are interested in?
Should I sell tickets the next time Janelle refuses to get into the cart! Maybe!
Today at Hannaford Janelle made it known that she was not at all interested in shopping, in a cart, in my arms, or even in the "fun" kid seat. She was not happy and no one not even mommy could make her happy.
She kicked. She screamed. I pretended to igonor her but very soon a crowd started to gather. I kid you not, people just stood and stared! These were not the " I have been there, you poor thing" stares. These were "this is entertaining" stares. I think maybe they were waiting for me to have a melt down also. Well not me, I have a hungry family to feed! Obviously I was the only person whoneeded to food because, as we progressed into the store, wherever we went people stopped what they were doing and stared.
This is not exactly true, some people, blocked the aisles so that I could not get through. Did they not hear the screaming child, who by aisle 3 was coated in chocolate. Hershey Kisses were my only line of defense, no judging, these bit of chocolate heaven got me to aisle 6 in relative silence.
As you can imagine I got in and out just as fast as I could but all the bystanders just made it a bit uncomfortable. So here is some advice, the next time you are out shopping and a baby, toddler, or hostile preschooler is screaming, kicking and causing a ruckus, do the very tired mom a favor, DON"T STARE, and MOVE out of her way!
Thank you!
Should I sell tickets the next time Janelle refuses to get into the cart! Maybe!
Today at Hannaford Janelle made it known that she was not at all interested in shopping, in a cart, in my arms, or even in the "fun" kid seat. She was not happy and no one not even mommy could make her happy.
She kicked. She screamed. I pretended to igonor her but very soon a crowd started to gather. I kid you not, people just stood and stared! These were not the " I have been there, you poor thing" stares. These were "this is entertaining" stares. I think maybe they were waiting for me to have a melt down also. Well not me, I have a hungry family to feed! Obviously I was the only person whoneeded to food because, as we progressed into the store, wherever we went people stopped what they were doing and stared.
This is not exactly true, some people, blocked the aisles so that I could not get through. Did they not hear the screaming child, who by aisle 3 was coated in chocolate. Hershey Kisses were my only line of defense, no judging, these bit of chocolate heaven got me to aisle 6 in relative silence.
As you can imagine I got in and out just as fast as I could but all the bystanders just made it a bit uncomfortable. So here is some advice, the next time you are out shopping and a baby, toddler, or hostile preschooler is screaming, kicking and causing a ruckus, do the very tired mom a favor, DON"T STARE, and MOVE out of her way!
Thank you!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Recycle or go to Hell, warns Vatican: Uh Oh!
Failing to recycle plastic bags could find you spending eternity in Hell, the Vatican said after drawing up a list of seven deadly sins for our times.
If this is the case then boy am I in big trouble. Does the Pope realize that while I am scraping and rinsing out the spaghetti o can, those spaghetti o's in question could:
Be fed to, or licked up by the dog; the repercussions of which will be scooped up by my lazy husband on his twice a year pooper scooping mission.
They could be used to paint the floor, the walls, or even a toddler's body.
Or the spaghetti o's that started out in the can,the can that will determine my eternal salvation, could be found hours later in a dirty diaper, or days later stuffed into a play purse?
As you can surmise I do not recycle. I believe that recycling is actually a conspiracy theory generated by the goverment and lazy husbands who want to keep women, stay at home mom's to be exact stuck at home lining up cans, milk jugs and cardboard boxes on the countertops.
I do not believe that God is judging me for tossing a can or 2 or 12 in the garbage. In fact, I have never felt more free then the first time I chucked a tin can in the garbage. There I was in my kitchen staring down 4 milk jugs and assorted cans feeling very overwhelmed. Everything was so cluttered and every time I ventured into the garage to sort these recyclable treasures my Janelle would howl and carry on as if I were leaving our home forever! In that moment it dawned on my, just put them in the garbage. At first I felt a tiny bit guilty, but then in went the second, then the third and soon my counters were clean and I was out of the kitchen and off to play with Jordan and Janelle. It was such a relief.
So sometimes I recycle and sometimes I am just to busy and tired. I guess I am caught somewhere between Heaven and Hell. Contrary to what the Pope says I am certain of where I will spend eternity, my God is a forgiving God who would never punish someone for choosing to make their life a little easier and less cluttered. I know my fate and no one can tell me any different.
If this is the case then boy am I in big trouble. Does the Pope realize that while I am scraping and rinsing out the spaghetti o can, those spaghetti o's in question could:
Be fed to, or licked up by the dog; the repercussions of which will be scooped up by my lazy husband on his twice a year pooper scooping mission.
They could be used to paint the floor, the walls, or even a toddler's body.
Or the spaghetti o's that started out in the can,the can that will determine my eternal salvation, could be found hours later in a dirty diaper, or days later stuffed into a play purse?
As you can surmise I do not recycle. I believe that recycling is actually a conspiracy theory generated by the goverment and lazy husbands who want to keep women, stay at home mom's to be exact stuck at home lining up cans, milk jugs and cardboard boxes on the countertops.
I do not believe that God is judging me for tossing a can or 2 or 12 in the garbage. In fact, I have never felt more free then the first time I chucked a tin can in the garbage. There I was in my kitchen staring down 4 milk jugs and assorted cans feeling very overwhelmed. Everything was so cluttered and every time I ventured into the garage to sort these recyclable treasures my Janelle would howl and carry on as if I were leaving our home forever! In that moment it dawned on my, just put them in the garbage. At first I felt a tiny bit guilty, but then in went the second, then the third and soon my counters were clean and I was out of the kitchen and off to play with Jordan and Janelle. It was such a relief.
So sometimes I recycle and sometimes I am just to busy and tired. I guess I am caught somewhere between Heaven and Hell. Contrary to what the Pope says I am certain of where I will spend eternity, my God is a forgiving God who would never punish someone for choosing to make their life a little easier and less cluttered. I know my fate and no one can tell me any different.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
When Things Calm Down
When things calm down at my house, like right now, both girls asleep, I never know what to do with myself.
Exercise, hmmm.. too loud, my big body bouncing will wake the children.
Clean, well why torture myself.
Read, zzzzz..... too tired.
Mindlessly search the internet, yup!!
I wish I had the energy to do something productive, make myself a better person in some way. Clean my house, make scrapbook memories, bake perfect cakes, read great literature.
But when the girls are asleep I just find myself aimlessly and quietly wandering the house. Could this be why my home is in such a messy state? Probably.
I know many mom's who have made amazing scrapbooks of their children, other mom's have really really clean houses, I even know one mom who has started her own at home business. What do they know that I don't. Pills, alcohol, what? what? Where does the pep come from, the energy to do such things???
I know that Jordan and Janelle are happy and they really don't seem to mind the messy house but I just wish I could know these other mom's secrets.
Another thing about these perfect mom's, the productive ones, the ones who probably have dinner preparations going on right now, is that they all seem to flock together. In groups, they go place in packs, they stick together. While I wander the Clifton Park mom world alone.
If anyone out there can tell me, the secrets of these robotic women I would love to hear?
Exercise, hmmm.. too loud, my big body bouncing will wake the children.
Clean, well why torture myself.
Read, zzzzz..... too tired.
Mindlessly search the internet, yup!!
I wish I had the energy to do something productive, make myself a better person in some way. Clean my house, make scrapbook memories, bake perfect cakes, read great literature.
But when the girls are asleep I just find myself aimlessly and quietly wandering the house. Could this be why my home is in such a messy state? Probably.
I know many mom's who have made amazing scrapbooks of their children, other mom's have really really clean houses, I even know one mom who has started her own at home business. What do they know that I don't. Pills, alcohol, what? what? Where does the pep come from, the energy to do such things???
I know that Jordan and Janelle are happy and they really don't seem to mind the messy house but I just wish I could know these other mom's secrets.
Another thing about these perfect mom's, the productive ones, the ones who probably have dinner preparations going on right now, is that they all seem to flock together. In groups, they go place in packs, they stick together. While I wander the Clifton Park mom world alone.
If anyone out there can tell me, the secrets of these robotic women I would love to hear?
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