A Typical Summer Day

You Are Being Loved

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

God loved you.
God loves you.
God will continue to love you.
Forever.

Right now. No matter what you're doing.

Whether you feel like it or not,

you ARE being loved.

Fishing again

James made me get a fishing license last week when we went camping.

Then he got me my own fishing pole. It's pretty. It's shiny red.

Then we went fishing at the park across the street. I caught a catfish.

It was awesome.

Twilight

So, I've been reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers. Good reads, really. If you haven't read them, I recommend them. If you are one of the 3 people in the world who haven't heard of these books yet, well, let me just warn you. They are vampire books.

Now don't go getting all I'm-a-Christian-so-why-would-I-read-vampire-books on me. They do have a redeeming quality which I will expound on in a sec.

I started reading these books mainly because my daughter was reading them and I always like to stay up on what my kids are reading. I also like science fiction, especially fantasy characters, like, well, vampires.

As I got through the 3rd book (there are 4 and the last one comes out in August), I began to realize that these books are a beautiful allegory about life, and choosing between God and the world. I'm sure the author didn't intend for her books about vampires to include a Christian allegory, but they do!

I won't ruin it for you because you need to read them yourself. I just think God is so creative to hide a picture of Himself in a sci-fi book about vampires! I mean, the audience for vampire books is not usually the audience for books like My Utmost For His Highest, right? The fact that He would choose this medium to reveal Himself to those who would otherwise ignore Him is just so like God.

Read the books. Read them. READ THEM.

God is awesome.

Can I get an "amen"?

Kum Ba Yah

We are going camping this weekend. I am psyched. I really wanted to go last weekend, but I'm glad we didn't because it took me literally ALL WEEK to get ready for this little getaway. Do you know how much FOOD and STUFF it takes to go camping with 6 people (Skylar isn't going. Brat.)? Here's a list, but it probably isn't exhaustive. Oh, and you'll see that I don't believe in starving while we're out enjoying nature!

3 pounds of hamburger meat
2 packages of hamburger buns
1 package of cheese slices
3 pounds of brick cheese
2 pounds of baby carrots
1 stalk of celery
1 pound of butter
1 loaf of homemade bread
3 loaves of Iron Kids Bread
3 pounds of lunch meat
1 package of turkey bologna
12 individual cups of applesauce
8 individual cups of fruit
1 LARGE watermelon
1 case of water
2 packages of hot dogs
2 packages of hot dog buns
4 bags of chips
2 packages of Twizzlers
1 jar of pickles
Mustard
Mayonnaise
Ketchup
1.5 dozen eggs
1 pound of bacon
5 pounds of potatoes
An assortment of granola bars and chewy fruit snacks
GORP
1 gallon of milk
Peanut butter (for those who won't eat lunchmeat)

Wow. I don't think I'll go into the *stuff* we have to take to accommodate all of us. Let's just say we have to take 2 cars. Maybe next time we should just camp in our backyard.

Anyway, I don't have anything scheduled to pop up here while we're gone, so you'll just have to miss me!

Freedom

I am involved in an online forum dedicated to moms in my area. I love this group of women even though we don't always agree. I appreciate the differing opinions and the thoughtful discussions that result. We have Republicans and Democrats; conservatives and liberals; Christians, atheists, and Buddhists; gay, straight and bi-sexual. It's a great mix of women that provides a great way to hear and be heard.

There are a few women on the board who have made it their mission, though, to try to make us all better people. They are the ones who tell people they are mean, or rude or intolerant to hold certain opinions. I know they are not believers and I am not holding them to a standard of righteousness. I just think it's funny how the ones who are accusing the Christians of being judgmental are doing the most judging themselves.

As a Christian, I'm happy to be free of that kind of responsibility. I don't want to be the one telling people they're wrong or right. That is a job solely for God's competant hands. I cannot imagine being the one who feels like it's her job to go around making people better humans. Whew! What a job that would be.

As a Christian, the only person I have to worry about is myself. And let me tell you, that is a big job.

By the time you read this...

...we will be on our way to get Skylar!