When it comes to Lent, I always fall back to my Catholic roots... more fish and I always give something up that brings my focus to God.
This year I gave up Facebook and in fact, all TV, computer and video games during the work/school week. The last three things, we gave up as a family. The kids are not so thrilled, but they do find themselves doing things like reading more and playing with toys (what a novel concept huh?)
At night, Jeff and I find ourselves having to talk more, or else getting to bed earlier and getting some much needed rest that we seemed to sacrifice for tv shows.
Tristan remarked that instead of thinking of God, he seems to be thinking of hell. While I first wanted to scold him, it did give us an opportunity to talk about hell, not usual conversation around the dinner table.
In the end, we decided that perhaps hell would be somewhat like not getting what we want, but that would probably only be a tiny part of what it would be like. That it would be best to thank God for what we have and for Him being in our lives.
By the way friends, I have a terrific link for people who want to hear about the differences between Catholics and Protestants. My old friend is a Pastor and here is a link to his sermon on this subject. (Thanks Bruce... )
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Gushing about the hubby...
Ever once in a while I realize that I am sooo blessed to have the best husband in the world. We have had our rough patches, but we make it through. The other night we were watching a movie where the wife was very "word that rhymes with itchy". I saw myself in that character. I just stared at Jeff and exclaimed "That is me isn't it?".
He smiled and gave me a kiss.
Now that is what I call telling me the truth in a loving manner.
He smiled and gave me a kiss.
Now that is what I call telling me the truth in a loving manner.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
For Casey... a memory.
Being a caregiver is such an experience that cannot be explained. You love, work, never get to take a break from worrying and at the same are thankful get to be doing what you are doing.
I was one of my dad's caregivers for quite a while. My mom did all the personal stuff that he was too embarrassed to have me do (and I respected that out of love) but when it came to doctor's appointments, it was me who took him and kept track of the medical information that was thrown at us.
Before dad was in a wheelchair, I remember one summer morning, I was taking him to his primary physician. South Washington, MMPC. I asked Dad if he wanted to get dropped off and he told me to park far so he could get some exercise in. We parked near the end of the sidewalk and started in.
He needed help getting up to the sidewalk. I tried to give him my arm, but the truth was that he needed more help than that. Why I didn't get in front of him and grab his torso was a split decision to not make him out to be weaker than I wanted him to be. But he was.
He fell onto the sidewalk. I tried to lift him but could not, even though his weight was about 115 pounds if that. He was embarrassed and I felt awful for letting him fall. He was scraped up and unfortunately, even a scrape took too much time to heal.
An angel came by. Actually his name was Bruce. I remember when our church helped him out because he had an accident that left him in a wheelchair. He asked if he could help and I asked him to sit with Dad while I grabbed a wheelchair that was in the front lobby of the office. He did, and he helped me get Dad in the chair. He explained how he was in a wheelchair for a while and there were times when his wife couldn't get him up when he fell out. He had compassion and then went about his business to his own appointment. Actually it wasn't until they called his name to go in, that I realized my angel's name.
There really was no way to avoid the fall. If I had dropped him off at the curb, he would have had to go in by himself since I would have had to park the car. He didn't acknowledge that he was weakening that much. I never would have assumed it, or if I did, I wouldn't have mentioned it to him to hurt him.
The only thing we can do is turn to God. While it was awful to go through. I learned his limitations. I prayed that God would let me still show him the love with the right amount of care, respect and dignity. It takes lots of strength, and I pray that for everyone who is in this situation. But believe me, it will bless the socks right off of you.
I was one of my dad's caregivers for quite a while. My mom did all the personal stuff that he was too embarrassed to have me do (and I respected that out of love) but when it came to doctor's appointments, it was me who took him and kept track of the medical information that was thrown at us.
Before dad was in a wheelchair, I remember one summer morning, I was taking him to his primary physician. South Washington, MMPC. I asked Dad if he wanted to get dropped off and he told me to park far so he could get some exercise in. We parked near the end of the sidewalk and started in.
He needed help getting up to the sidewalk. I tried to give him my arm, but the truth was that he needed more help than that. Why I didn't get in front of him and grab his torso was a split decision to not make him out to be weaker than I wanted him to be. But he was.
He fell onto the sidewalk. I tried to lift him but could not, even though his weight was about 115 pounds if that. He was embarrassed and I felt awful for letting him fall. He was scraped up and unfortunately, even a scrape took too much time to heal.
An angel came by. Actually his name was Bruce. I remember when our church helped him out because he had an accident that left him in a wheelchair. He asked if he could help and I asked him to sit with Dad while I grabbed a wheelchair that was in the front lobby of the office. He did, and he helped me get Dad in the chair. He explained how he was in a wheelchair for a while and there were times when his wife couldn't get him up when he fell out. He had compassion and then went about his business to his own appointment. Actually it wasn't until they called his name to go in, that I realized my angel's name.
There really was no way to avoid the fall. If I had dropped him off at the curb, he would have had to go in by himself since I would have had to park the car. He didn't acknowledge that he was weakening that much. I never would have assumed it, or if I did, I wouldn't have mentioned it to him to hurt him.
The only thing we can do is turn to God. While it was awful to go through. I learned his limitations. I prayed that God would let me still show him the love with the right amount of care, respect and dignity. It takes lots of strength, and I pray that for everyone who is in this situation. But believe me, it will bless the socks right off of you.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Prayer
I have dealt with seasonal depression ever since I went to Michigan Tech in the U.P. At school I would take some homework and sit under a special light in the counseling center and supposedly that would help.
Jeff has always bought me daylight light bulbs for the house and although it looks so weird from the outside, I have gotten used to it. It is still hard to trudge thru the season and the worst is when I feel like "I can jump right out of my skin". Has anyone else ever felt like this?
We are having a good evening at home with no reason to leave the house. I feel like a too big adult making a ruckus in a kiddie pool. Splish, splash... Water all over and I've got limbs flying everywhere. If I were to simply stop, I would notice how ridiculous I am being.
I've got WJQ on the radio and hoping that Wally can somehow make the time go by faster so I have an excuse to go to bed early. Anything to make it stop.
If you were to walk past our window, you wouldn't see anything out of the ordinary. I think I will head to bed and crochet for a while.
Dear God,
I'm sitting here tonight hoping to slow my mind from it's running.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
Lord, help me to give you everything. Help my mind to be still and remember that YOU control everything from the hairs on my head, to the many snowflakes that fall outside my walls. I want to be a positive influence to my children and to not hide away when I can't control my running thoughts.
I trust you and give it all to you.
I love you!
Amen
Jeff has always bought me daylight light bulbs for the house and although it looks so weird from the outside, I have gotten used to it. It is still hard to trudge thru the season and the worst is when I feel like "I can jump right out of my skin". Has anyone else ever felt like this?
We are having a good evening at home with no reason to leave the house. I feel like a too big adult making a ruckus in a kiddie pool. Splish, splash... Water all over and I've got limbs flying everywhere. If I were to simply stop, I would notice how ridiculous I am being.
I've got WJQ on the radio and hoping that Wally can somehow make the time go by faster so I have an excuse to go to bed early. Anything to make it stop.
If you were to walk past our window, you wouldn't see anything out of the ordinary. I think I will head to bed and crochet for a while.
Dear God,
I'm sitting here tonight hoping to slow my mind from it's running.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
Lord, help me to give you everything. Help my mind to be still and remember that YOU control everything from the hairs on my head, to the many snowflakes that fall outside my walls. I want to be a positive influence to my children and to not hide away when I can't control my running thoughts.
I trust you and give it all to you.
I love you!
Amen
Monday, January 18, 2010
Life lesson...
It is easier to criticize, but difficult to improve. If you want to help people improve their behaviour it is worth investing your effort in learning how to help people change their behaviours, attitudes and skills.
Also, always remember not to get carried away or judge yourself by someone else's criticism and feel depressed as you are the best judge to judge yourself. Take Criticism in your stride, consider those which are genuine and implement those which you think is the best to improve you as a person!!
-- Author Unknown
Also, always remember not to get carried away or judge yourself by someone else's criticism and feel depressed as you are the best judge to judge yourself. Take Criticism in your stride, consider those which are genuine and implement those which you think is the best to improve you as a person!!
-- Author Unknown
Sunday, January 10, 2010
How I met my knight in shining armor...
I don't know why this is on my mind... but I was remembering when I met my husband Jeff.
I had transferred to Michigan Tech on a whim, more or less. I wanted a new start at college and I went purely on it's reputation. After having a 3 hour meeting/interview with the Transfer Admissions chair of MTU, first at Bob Evans, and then in the lobby of this motel. I put my faith in God and started the first week of December of 1991.
Of the three dorms on campus, I chose the smallest. I arrived at 5am via the Greyhound with my boyfriend at the time who went back to Flint the same day in the evening.
I knew exactly one person who went to Michigan Tech from my high school. He was two years younger than me, and I happened to run into him at the town library earlier that year. Jeff happened to be one of his roommates.
Jeff remembers when I called Jon to let him know I was at Tech that evening. We were amazed to be in the same dorm and he quickly came down to visit me. He called Jeff from my dorm room to jump up and down to see if we could hear him. We could! We determined he was almost right above my room.
I didn't meet Jeff that night. In fact, I think it was into the first or second week of the term when I met him. I sat in the cafeteria with Jon and watched this young man with the most amazing eyes bow his head to pray before eating.
It was a slow motion moment and I only recall his beautiful blue eyes.
The next part of the story gets a little complicated, and I imagine that it will wait for another post!
I had transferred to Michigan Tech on a whim, more or less. I wanted a new start at college and I went purely on it's reputation. After having a 3 hour meeting/interview with the Transfer Admissions chair of MTU, first at Bob Evans, and then in the lobby of this motel. I put my faith in God and started the first week of December of 1991.
Of the three dorms on campus, I chose the smallest. I arrived at 5am via the Greyhound with my boyfriend at the time who went back to Flint the same day in the evening.
I knew exactly one person who went to Michigan Tech from my high school. He was two years younger than me, and I happened to run into him at the town library earlier that year. Jeff happened to be one of his roommates.
Jeff remembers when I called Jon to let him know I was at Tech that evening. We were amazed to be in the same dorm and he quickly came down to visit me. He called Jeff from my dorm room to jump up and down to see if we could hear him. We could! We determined he was almost right above my room.
I didn't meet Jeff that night. In fact, I think it was into the first or second week of the term when I met him. I sat in the cafeteria with Jon and watched this young man with the most amazing eyes bow his head to pray before eating.
It was a slow motion moment and I only recall his beautiful blue eyes.
The next part of the story gets a little complicated, and I imagine that it will wait for another post!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I'm taking time away from the constant worry that I won't have everything ready in time to remind myself (and hopefully others) that Christmas is not about the presents, the food or the cards (which hopefully made it into the mailbox today).
I shouldn't be worried that Meijer is closing at 7pm today, but I am. I have to get my traditional Christmas food. Hot chocolate and Pannetone for tonight, and Pigs in a Blanket for tomorrow morning.
We have the joy of inviting another family to join us for our "big" Christmas Eve dinner. While they don't know it, they are helping us get over the two empty seats that would be at the table... the ones for my daddy in heaven and my mom in Peru.
The Lord has blessed my socks off! Being an over-emotional person, I tend to build that wall that keeps my heart from bouncing all over the place when it comes to finding joy. Christmas seems to be that occassion that allows me to break the wall down and gush about it all!!!
Not only has joy touched my life, but my friends have opened their lives and allowed me to share their joys. Adoptions that have happened, and some that are still in progress. Surgeries that have occured and recoveries that are still in proccess. Babies being born... two of which are my precious nephews.
Not only have I had the privledge of sharing joy but being able to pray for the not-so-joyful occassions that have been a blessing to me. Hurting marriages, financial struggles, saying goodbye to loved ones and losing one's foster children.
I thank God for my rich life. Rich as in full of so many colorful experiences and not necessarily the monetary type of rich. I pray that I can somehow reflect a glimmer of Jesus in my life and that my loved ones do the same for me.
Much love and blessings!
Marianne
I shouldn't be worried that Meijer is closing at 7pm today, but I am. I have to get my traditional Christmas food. Hot chocolate and Pannetone for tonight, and Pigs in a Blanket for tomorrow morning.
We have the joy of inviting another family to join us for our "big" Christmas Eve dinner. While they don't know it, they are helping us get over the two empty seats that would be at the table... the ones for my daddy in heaven and my mom in Peru.
The Lord has blessed my socks off! Being an over-emotional person, I tend to build that wall that keeps my heart from bouncing all over the place when it comes to finding joy. Christmas seems to be that occassion that allows me to break the wall down and gush about it all!!!
Not only has joy touched my life, but my friends have opened their lives and allowed me to share their joys. Adoptions that have happened, and some that are still in progress. Surgeries that have occured and recoveries that are still in proccess. Babies being born... two of which are my precious nephews.
Not only have I had the privledge of sharing joy but being able to pray for the not-so-joyful occassions that have been a blessing to me. Hurting marriages, financial struggles, saying goodbye to loved ones and losing one's foster children.
I thank God for my rich life. Rich as in full of so many colorful experiences and not necessarily the monetary type of rich. I pray that I can somehow reflect a glimmer of Jesus in my life and that my loved ones do the same for me.
Much love and blessings!
Marianne
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