Ten!

My mom and Dan think I should leave October's posts alone and leave it at nine. I just can't do it.

Phall Photos

There was an old woman...

For all the times they made me sit alone in my room...

Feeding the goats with Papa

Bagging the kettle corn.

Dayna is finally big enough to reach the pedals!

I think we should get this one.

Dayna and Sarah in their matching pig jammies (with their matching pigs, Snort and Curly)

Pretty colors in Amana.

Going through the shops in Amana with our friend Sarah.

There something about pictures of kids sitting on a pile of pumpkins.

Dan drove the train this year at the pumpkin patch. Dayna got to ride up front!

Fall Mums

Pretty girl. We get a picture at this fence every year.

Annual family picture on the bridge in Nebraska City

Hayrack Ride in Nebraska City

That's What Friends Are For

My best friend called me tonight. I really needed that. We first met 23 years ago in 8th grade science class...Carrie Van Daam (the new kid) was seated alphabetically in the back of the room next to Alaina Wood (the loudmouth). An unlikely and lasting friendship was forged.

We are now in very different stages of life, yet she seemed to completely understand some of the ups (but mostly downs lately) I've been experiencing. I realized as we hung up just how blessed I am to have a friend like Carrie...and to think of all that our friendship has experienced in 23 years, I'm even more blessed that she's stuck with me through it all.

After our conversation, I found myself reflecting and praying that Dayna finds a friend like that someday.

You're Never Too Old

I am looking forward to a special visit tomorrow from my parents. It seems that you can never be too old to appreciate your parents. Not having them live nearby makes you appreciate them all the more when you do see them. Right now, they're somewhere in Wyoming, and I'm looking forward to driving home tomorrow and seeing them when I get home.

Now, if only I could convince them to stay a little longer...

There Used to Be a Time...

...when I could do many things well. I could cook, I could sew, (I never really could clean...), I could can my summer produce, I could love my husband and daughter, I could teach kids who didn't know their alphabet how to read music...

Then this year happened. My family is suffering, my job is suffering, I fear that my health will begin to suffer. I really wonder why God has brought me to this point. I know that I'm in His will, but I still don't like it.

I know, I sound like a broken record. I just keep waiting for things to even out, but I wonder now if they ever will...

You Catch More Flies With Honey

You know...when you have a parent walk into your class without introducing themselves and pull a student, then you try to give that student useful information for next week's test, only to have that parent chew you out and follow it up with a scathing email about all your shortcomings as a teacher, misconstruing things that you said and did to fit their agenda...it kind of sets the tone for all future dealings with said parent, and possibly their child. Then, when you find out said parent is a fellow teacher...

Heaven help me from ever attacking one of my child's teachers like this...aren't we supposed to be in this together? I can't even fathom opening my mouth to tear someone apart that I want to be helping to build up my child.

I've always said that teacher/parents are the best ones to work with, as well as the worst. Thank you, God, for reminding me this week what kind of parent I want to be (and what kind of parent I DON'T want to become.)

Coexist?

With the amount of time I spend on the road, it's inevitable that I see some interesting political, moral, and religious statements sticking to the cars I see on the road. At least once a day, I see the one above. It has never set well with me. In my study of Isaiah this fall, I've had some interesting thoughts about this.

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter. (Is. 5:20)

The commentary notes I read on this section (from Bible Study Fellowship, International) put it this way: "In our day of moral relativism, tolerance becomes the absolute good, and under this standard, the prohibition of immorality becomes intolerance and therefore evil." There used to be a day where right was right and wrong was wrong. We live in a world with so many shades of gray now, that if you speak up for black or white, you are labeled a bigot, or intolerant.

The concept of there being one God who provides one way to heaven (through Jesus...see John 14:6 and Acts 4:12...these are God's words, not mine) is not popular these days. Then again...just because something is popular doesn't mean it's right.

Along those lines, the concept of a holy God is one that we can't seem to fathom today. We want a loving god, a kind god, a tolerant god...a god of our choosing. Any god created by man is an impotent god. But the one true holy God is exactly that: holy. He cannot be in the presence of sin. That's why He provided forgiveness and atonement through His Son. As my teaching leader put it on Monday night, God's glory and sin cannot coexist.

Isaiah came face to face with the Holy God in Isaiah 6. He immediately recognized his sinfulness and confessed, "woe to me, for I am man of unclean lips." He realized that his sinfulness could not coexist with God's holiness.

So, as happy, cheerful, sunshine and rainbows as that bumper sticker sounds, there's simply no truth to it. It's filled with empty promises.

Now, this is not to say that as Christians we should not live at peace with those around us; we are to love our neighbors, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile...But we are not to compromise when it comes to worshiping God (He does make it clear throughout Scripture that He is a jealous God, and we are to have no other gods but Him) or accepting sin.

In the words of the late Rich Mullins (who, as a side note, is the second person I want to meet in heaven...right after Jesus):

I believe what I believe
Is what makes me who I am
I did not make it,
No it is making me
It is the very truth of God
And not the invention of any man.

Let me say it again: God and sin cannot coexist.

So Glad She's Looking Out for Me

The following conversation took place during bedtime tonight:

Dayna reaches for my hair.

Mom: What are you doing?

Dayna: I'm pulling out your gray hair.

Mom: You don't need to do that.

Dayna gives a sharp tug.

Mom: Ow!

Dayna: What's wrong? You don't want me to look out for your hair?

The Things We Do for Love

Long day...check.

Headache...check.

Exhausted...check.

Husband's gone tonight...check.

Dinner made...check.

Dishes done...check. (Well, not the handwashing.)

Popcorn popped...check.

Football game on...check.

Princess Leia costume cut out...check.

While sitting on the basement floor...check.

Major backache...check.

Bedtime snuggles...can't wait!

Caution: Objects in Mirror Are Older than They Appear

Overheard while getting Dayna ready for school pictures Thursday morning:

Dayna: Dad, what was picture day like when you were in Kindergarten?

Dad: Oh, a little different than it is now.

Dayna: What was school like when you were in Kindergarten?

Dad: Things were very different when I was little.

Dayna: Is that because you were born during the Old Testament?

Mom (from other room): loud snorting sound while hot tea escapes her nose.