At Moody Founder's Week a few weeks ago, the student center was crowded at lunch time. Finding no open seats at tables, we sat by the windows in two upholstered chairs facing two other chairs, with our trays on our laps.
Pretty soon, another couple, carrying lunch trays came by, looking for a place to sit.
Eventually I discovered they are missionaries in Guinea. Before I could stop myself, I said,
"Oh, I know a couple in Guinea..." and then apologized, b/c I've been on the other end of that sentence too many times, and what are the odds?
When she asked who, I had to give clues. I couldn't
remember their name.
"I know her maiden name," I offered, and continued, "They're with x mission board." Finally I stumbled out my last clue, "Their daughter's name is Susie*."
Then she started jumping in, too. "Yes, John* and ..."
That got me going: "Her name starts with B*."
Finally we got their names out, and yes, they know them. But it
makes for a funny story.
Needless to say, she and I never exchanged
names, for obviously we can't be counted on to remember them!
* Names changed
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Catching Up
- Somewhere in the various stacks and piles of paper in our home are scraps of paper on which I've written ideas of topics I want to develop into a blog post. The following items are not those ideas, but will have to do until I find said scraps of paper.
- The wind is howling at 25-40 mph, which is noisy, as in wake me up 50 times during the night noisy. But tonight it's more than just 25-40 mph noisy winds, we have winds that are blowing the National Weather Service's "snowy mix." So it's LOUD when it hits the sides of the house. (I realize I should be more focused on being thankful that we have walls of a house than on the noise.)
- I don't often feel very Proverbs 31-ish, but yesterday I did! Gas in the town west of us was $3.89, in our town it was $3.79, as I drove into the south side of the town east of us it was $3.64, and more in the center of town, Kroger had it for $3.54. Plus I had $.40 in Kroger fuel points that was set to expire Feb. 28. So I filled up the entire tank for $3.14. Yay for Kroger!
- One of Money Saving Mom's 52 different ways to save $100 per year is to surround yourself with frugal friends. She lists many good reasons, and concludes with, "they’ll laugh at your crazy thrift store experiences." I don't think I've ever had a crazy thrift store experience, but I do love a good thrift store! Yesterday after I dropped off some things at Goodwill, I couldn't resist the temptation to go inside. My best find was a vintage Tupperware (10x10 with lid) for 99 cents!
- I have a new trick for natural treatment of my usual (cold --> sinus infection --> asthma --> bronchitis). The proof will come later, but for now it seems helpful. Since childhood I've been taught to "force fluids," but I recently heard a tip that takes it up several notches. At the first sign of a cold, drink a glass of water. Ten minutes later drink another glass of water. Ten minutes later drink another glass of water ... for an hour. I did it yesterday, and felt amazingly well all day. Granted, when I woke up this morning, things had deteriorated during the night. But, today's a new day, and I'm working on glass number four!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Meeting strangers
Our trip to Moody Founder's Week was short & sweet (Wed. 6 AM -
Thur. 3 PM).
We heard Lutzer, Mohler, Platt, and Ryken. (All 2013 Founder's Weeks videos are here.) VERY good. (If you only have time to watch one, I recommend Platt's.)
We arrived an hour early for the Wednesday night session and got to know a nice couple sitting next to us. Recently retired educators, they had some airline tickets that had to be used by the middle of February. So she searched online for "Christian conference February" and learned about Founder's Week. They didn't know much about Moody, but knew two of the speakers, so came ... from North Carolina! They are already planning to bring a group from their Sunday School class next year.
Wonder how much of her friendliness is because she's from the south?!
We heard Lutzer, Mohler, Platt, and Ryken. (All 2013 Founder's Weeks videos are here.) VERY good. (If you only have time to watch one, I recommend Platt's.)
We arrived an hour early for the Wednesday night session and got to know a nice couple sitting next to us. Recently retired educators, they had some airline tickets that had to be used by the middle of February. So she searched online for "Christian conference February" and learned about Founder's Week. They didn't know much about Moody, but knew two of the speakers, so came ... from North Carolina! They are already planning to bring a group from their Sunday School class next year.
Wonder how much of her friendliness is because she's from the south?!
Monday, February 18, 2013
1000 Gifts, Vol. 4, #49
501. encouragement and a sense of "this is normal" from the online forum of others recovering from this same surgery
502. walking into church next to a lady ... which led to a 10-15 minute conversation, getting to know each other
503. an insulated, heated house (I hope I never stop being thankful for this!)
504. a bit more energy & mobility to clean the kitchen counters off and make our living space more pleasing to the eye
505. getting into the next book for book club (Rebecca)
506. getting into a new book (Unseduced and Unshaken: The Place of Dignity in a Young Woman's Choices)
507. anticipation
508. time to rest and recover
509. a husband who spurs me on to love and good deeds
510. a fun weekday lunch with family
502. walking into church next to a lady ... which led to a 10-15 minute conversation, getting to know each other
503. an insulated, heated house (I hope I never stop being thankful for this!)
504. a bit more energy & mobility to clean the kitchen counters off and make our living space more pleasing to the eye
505. getting into the next book for book club (Rebecca)
506. getting into a new book (Unseduced and Unshaken: The Place of Dignity in a Young Woman's Choices)
507. anticipation
508. time to rest and recover
509. a husband who spurs me on to love and good deeds
510. a fun weekday lunch with family
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Love, Joy, Peace
Happy Valentine's Day!
 |
| L to R, top to bottom: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control, or you know 愛，喜び、平安、 etc. :-) |
A friend shared with me her New Year's goal of focusing her Bible study on the fruit of the spirit. Just before January 1st, she even asked if I had any books on love and borrowed one.
As I entered week 3 of recovery, a completely different Amazon search led me to the first book on this list, and I thought, "Oh, I should send her this link," and next thing I knew, I was googling books on the fruit of the spirit faster than you can imagine.
Below is the list I came up with (during a brief search). Do you have others you would add to the list?
Loving the Way Jesus Loves, Ryken *
One Amazon reviewer wrote:
Phil Ryken has written a very convicting, and yet practically helpful book that exegetes from the context of 1 Corinthians 13 (Biblical Exegesis) but also walks you through the Gospels (giving a Biblical theology of love) and demonstrates how Jesus exemplifies the genuine love that is being described in Corinthians.
Joy: A Godly Woman's Adornment
When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy *
Joy Unspeakable: Power & Renewal in the Holy Spirit
The Peacemaker *
Peacemaking Women *
A Woman's Walk with God: Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit *
90 Days of God's Goodness *
The Practice of Godliness
Discover how to seek a deeper devotion to the Lord; train yourself to be godly; clothe yourself in Christ; cultivate humility, contentment, thankfulness, joy, self-control, peace, love, and other fruits of the Spirit; and more. 233 pages, softcover from NavPress.
* ~ on my bookshelf
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Free at Publix
A few months back I was out-of-state visiting relatives and ended up at Urgent Care.
I knew what was wrong. The air on the plane or the change in humidity and climate or the pollen/allergens of that locale had caused an allergic reaction which quickly degenerated into a sinus infection, asthma problems, and bronchitis.
But I didn't have two weeks to sit around and let my body heal, so I went to Urgent Care with the phrase, "I'm getting on a plane tomorrow," on the tip of my tongue, if the doctor did not seem inclined to dispense antibiotics.
After signing in, waiting while the receptionist called the insurance (to no avail), signing in some more, waiting, taking care of some business on the phone, and waiting some more, I was in the patient room, and Mr. Doctor was soon right there. It took him less time than it's taken you to read this to announce that I had a sinus infection & bronchitis, "And I'll give you a prescription for Amoxicillin."
The nurse appeared and asked where I'd like my prescription called in, adding, "Publix fills it for free." ?!?! I had to ask for a map (remember, I was visiting out-of-state). I pointed to a certain Publix on a certain road, a Publix that I had in fact been to a few days prior. I also received a printed copy of the Rx.
Meanwhile, I was driving in an unfamiliar city and without a GPS, and ended up passing TWO Publixes (is that the plural form?) without knowing it. So, when I walked up to the pharmacy, no, they did not have my prescription filled, but yes, they would fill it, and it would take 20 minutes.
During those 20 minutes, I found enough items to fill my shopping cart, that I'm sure Publix made money on my "free" antibiotic.
So, I recovered (several weeks later actually ... and not without fearing I had pneumonia), I got questionably free drugs, I paid Publix a bunch of money, and ... wonder of wonders ... although Urgent Care had the nerve to charge my insurance company more than $300 for those 5 minutes of their time (!), I later received a partial refund from Urgent Care for the $50 co-pay that I paid at the time of service.
It makes you long for Doc Baker of Little House fame, although I'm pretty certain he didn't have the power of Amoxicillin in his little black bag.
I knew what was wrong. The air on the plane or the change in humidity and climate or the pollen/allergens of that locale had caused an allergic reaction which quickly degenerated into a sinus infection, asthma problems, and bronchitis.
But I didn't have two weeks to sit around and let my body heal, so I went to Urgent Care with the phrase, "I'm getting on a plane tomorrow," on the tip of my tongue, if the doctor did not seem inclined to dispense antibiotics.
After signing in, waiting while the receptionist called the insurance (to no avail), signing in some more, waiting, taking care of some business on the phone, and waiting some more, I was in the patient room, and Mr. Doctor was soon right there. It took him less time than it's taken you to read this to announce that I had a sinus infection & bronchitis, "And I'll give you a prescription for Amoxicillin."
The nurse appeared and asked where I'd like my prescription called in, adding, "Publix fills it for free." ?!?! I had to ask for a map (remember, I was visiting out-of-state). I pointed to a certain Publix on a certain road, a Publix that I had in fact been to a few days prior. I also received a printed copy of the Rx.
Meanwhile, I was driving in an unfamiliar city and without a GPS, and ended up passing TWO Publixes (is that the plural form?) without knowing it. So, when I walked up to the pharmacy, no, they did not have my prescription filled, but yes, they would fill it, and it would take 20 minutes.
During those 20 minutes, I found enough items to fill my shopping cart, that I'm sure Publix made money on my "free" antibiotic.
So, I recovered (several weeks later actually ... and not without fearing I had pneumonia), I got questionably free drugs, I paid Publix a bunch of money, and ... wonder of wonders ... although Urgent Care had the nerve to charge my insurance company more than $300 for those 5 minutes of their time (!), I later received a partial refund from Urgent Care for the $50 co-pay that I paid at the time of service.
It makes you long for Doc Baker of Little House fame, although I'm pretty certain he didn't have the power of Amoxicillin in his little black bag.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2012 version
Places where I spent one (or more) nights in 2012:
Chicago, IL
Indianapolis, IN
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Williams Bay, WI*
Lake Geneva, WI
west of Cincinnati, OH
Kingsport, TN
Burlington, IA
Oviedo, FL
Bartlett, IL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
on the Caribbean
and home!
* stayed there on more than one occasion
The list is in rough chronological order. It was a slow travel year. One new state in 2012 (YAY, Iowa!), and one new country (Honduras) ~ if a 7-hour port of call counts ~ and one new airport, but oh! the new memories made!!
Where did you go in 2012 for the first time?
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2009 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2010 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2011 version
Chicago, IL
Indianapolis, IN
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Williams Bay, WI*
Lake Geneva, WI
west of Cincinnati, OH
Kingsport, TN
Burlington, IA
Oviedo, FL
Bartlett, IL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
on the Caribbean
and home!
* stayed there on more than one occasion
The list is in rough chronological order. It was a slow travel year. One new state in 2012 (YAY, Iowa!), and one new country (Honduras) ~ if a 7-hour port of call counts ~ and one new airport, but oh! the new memories made!!
Where did you go in 2012 for the first time?
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2009 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2010 version
Oh, the places you will go! ~ 2011 version
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