Little Hands 10 on 10

3 sets of precious little hands fill the day with fun and laughter.

Behold, bless the Lord, all servants of the Lord,

Who serve by night in the house of the Lord!

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary

And bless the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion,

He who made heaven and earth.

Ps. 134


Linking up to: A Bit of Sunshine

Go West, Bob

My name is Bob. I live in Cleveland. And this is my story.

My mom lives in this harsh and barren place by choice. Can you believe it??! But that doesn't mean I have to stay!! Thankfully, there are people that care enough to liberate me from winters trap to take me someplace I can thaw. 

I attended a conference with my mom, Sue, before leaving home for warmer climes.

This is Kimm Carr, the Executive Director of Community Bible Study. I sat attentively and quietly while she spoke and learned so much. I think I'd like to be a leader when I grow up, though public speaking might be a problem. Reaching the mike is a challenge!

I'll be a much better Bob thanks to my time spent in CBS!

This is my liberator, Mama J, introducing me to Young Chase, the National Director, Childrens Ministry in CBS. We got to ride in the car for a few hours together. I'll always like Young. 

Ruth and Michelle were happy to make me one of the gang!

VERY early in the morning after leaving Cleve-too stinking cold-land, we headed for the airport. This is my first flight!!!

Checking in

My foster folks are obviously connected!

I really wanted to make some origami animals out of dollar bills, but Mama J said it would be too hard without thumbs..... and fingers......

It was raining when we got to AZ, but it's better than that "stinking white stuff."

Gramma is teaching me how to knit....

But I think I'd rather do stuff like this outside. They put me on defense because of my height... ????

I wonder if this dog got in trouble.....

This is Daddy J. He's happy to be out of the snow too!

I love limes! Especially in March!

It's apple juice. Honest.

Ouch!

I got to meet some of Mama and Daddy J's friends, Jenny and Blake. They were real nice, but I have to tell you, I got a little dizzy from the height!

I could SO get used to this!!

Playing with the kids. I don't think they were normal kids. They were very quiet.

And a baseball game!! Woot!!

Mama and Daddy J took me to the store named after me!!

And then............ they introduced me to manna. Pure, yummy, life changing manna. Moses would have loved it!!

Maybe I can work here while I teach in CBS!

I've learned some new games too!

After a fun week out west, today I'm heading home. I'd love to stay, but I'm sure Mama Sue misses me terribly. And I miss her too.

Bye Camelback!!

Hello Ohio!

Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things

like silver or gold from your future way of life inherited from your forefathers,

but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, 

the blood of Christ. 

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared

in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers

in God who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, 

so that your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:18-21

The Written Word 10 on 10

When I got my reminder message this morning from Jen at Living Life One Cheerio At A Time, I really didn't think I'd do a 10 on 10 today. I didn't have anything exciting planned, and no one was coming over. But the more I thought about it, the more important it became to me to open the door a bit on a very warped part of my life. I am the mother of adult children, both by birth and by marriage, and there is NOTHING more entertaining than communicating with  adult children using the written word. 

Things like this are what keeps me laughing!

One of us usually remembers.

This followed the most hilarious video of my only granddaughter.

I'm fairly new to the use of emoticons. They're actually pretty fun!

Our fridge always has some kind of message on it.

I think this is my oldest daughters favorite sign.

I see a theme developing here............

No. She didn't run over him. I think........

Oh yes. There is DEFINITELY a theme!!

Some of the children have a more cerebral style.

Others are pretty down to earth.

And NO one is immune from fridge phrases!

Day to day pours forth speech, 

And night to night reveals knowledge.

Ps. 19:2

Linking up to: A Bit Of Sunshine

My Big Decision

I grew up in the 60's and 70's in southern California. I had the privilege of experiencing the hippie surfer lifestyle and boot cut low rise jeans, which we called bell bottom hip-huggers, the first time they were in style. I loved living out there. There was always something to do, and it was never hard to find things that were free. Which was good, because I never had much cash. I loved Peter Maxx prints, love beads, peasant blouses, "jap flaps", (we were so politically incorrect!) vests made from crocheted granny squares, mini skirts and vicks blue, perfectly round sunglasses. That stuff is considered "vintage" now and it's in antique stores that smell funny. It wasn't the "good old days" but it was good.

Like any normal human being, life was full of rites of passage. I've blogged about some of them. Shaving for the first time, going to Catholic school, learning to drive, and playing with the neighborhood kids. I spent a lot of time at the beach, and wait on pins and needles for the skin cancer to appear. Remember the old billboards for Coppertone? "Tan don't burn" for me was actually "burn baby burn" no matter what I did or didn't use. Everyone knew that Noxema was the only thing that cooled the burn. But I digress.....

It's interesting, now looking back, how those rites of passage play a part in life even now. Beyond the skin cancer and wrinkles, that is. We make decisions that will become a part of us for as long as we live. For example, I've always thought it was supremely unfair to expect a 17 or 18 year old kid, fresh out of high school, to decide what they will do for the rest of their lives and declare a college major. "Changing your major" should actually be a declared major option! I made a decision when I turned 18 that I think about every single morning. I had no idea how it would stick with me. 

I honestly can't tell you why I felt I had to make such a momentous decision upon turning 18, but it was huge for me. I wasn't one to give things a lot of thought, and have always pretty much lived in the moment. But one day, I felt as if the heavens opened, and 3 options were presented that I must choose between. "It" had to be one of the following things:

1. Pierce my nose
2. Pierce my ears a second time
3. Get a butterfly tattoo on my butt

None of those things were especially popular at the time. And while I was a relatively free thinker, I wasn't necessarily a radical. I never even questioned why it was so important to make this decision; all I know is that it WAS. So, in a way that went totally against my impulsive manner, I actually gave it some very serious thought. And I didn't discuss it with anyone. Probably because I knew at my very core that whomever I might mention it to would think I was mentally ill because I considered it so stinking important!

I was deep in thought about this momentous decision when I met a young woman who had pierced her nose. I. Was. Amazed. I never thought I would EVER run into anyone outside of India that actually had their nose pierced!! We talked about the process and, of course, how much it hurt. But what really stuck with me was the fact that her piercing had healed completely, and that particular day she wasn't wearing a stud. I. Was so. DISTRACTED!! That piercing looked like the biggest blackhead I had EVER seen!! And, of course, the nose blowing thing. It's a hole, right? And I barely heard what she said because I was trying to figure out what happened when she blew her nose. Hey, I was 18....

One down. No pierced nose for me. 2 choices left. What would it be and how could I possibly decide?!

At this point, I should tell you that I never had any grand career aspirations. All I ever wanted was to marry a great guy and have a great family. I wasn't interested in breaking the glass ceiling or making a mark. I knew who Gloria Steinem was, and why bras were burning, but quite frankly, I just didn't care. I wanted to be a full time mom to a posse of kids. I was also quite well acquainted with the fact that I was built just like my Grandmother Genevieve. Small of stature, and wide of hip. I barely broke 100 lbs at the time, but my genetics were pretty obvious, and I knew hips were in my future. So, if I tattood a sweet little butterfly on my butt, what would it end up looking like? At the time, I insisted it would probably end up looking like a Luna Moth. A fat, hairy, unattractive thing that you would NOT want etched on your backside. But now I realize a much greater possibility is that it  would have looked more like a buzzard. Ugly, droopy........... No thanks. 

So. By process of elimination, the decision had been made. I would get my ears double pierced. So far, I don't regret it, but perhaps someday I will if I get saggy old lady ear lobes at some point. I was called "trailer trash" one time. A very proper southern "friend" made sure I knew how she felt. She had a lot of air in her hair. And she was from the "old" south. Not the "cool" south. That's right, kids. Southern California!!!

Your adornment must not be merely external - 

braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry,

or putting on dresses;

but let it be the hidden person of the heart,

with the imperishable quality of

a gentle and quiet spirit,

which is precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:3-4