"Jonah days"

Anne of Green Gables used that phrase to describe days that were just wrong. I've had a couple in a row--and they had to be on the weekend.

Yesterday was a day of putting out fires. Brennan was angry because we wouldn't approve his plan to come home. Bart was in "a zone" even worse than usual. Charissa was in quite the mood. Thank goodness Brett was at work, but, of course, so was Brian, so I was handling life without the other half. (These days usually hit when he's safely stashed in the vicinity of a crane. I hate him!) In addition to all this, grades have to be posted for midterms by tomorrow and I have a bloomin' TON of grading to do, partly because we have no scantrons left in the building, by and large. My head prayer servant had to drop out of the mentoring prayer group because she is committed to something else that is imminent. People who were excited about mentoring suddenly can't do it this time...and I won't even go into the financial end of life right now.

Last night, my stomach was hurting/upset, either because I ate late or because I was stressed or both, so I didn't try to go to church this morning. Between lack of sleep and grading, I stayed home. I hate that. Then, when I'd planned to do something special with Charissa, Brett took her to another church with him and I could just sit in a lump and bawl.

I keep praying that I let God be in charge of all this, but I keep taking it back. Be in prayer that I get my focus established on Whom it should be. All this will be part of a greater plan. I just can't see it in my frustration.

Beth Moore's Maximum Impact

A smattering of gems; my blog won't hold them all;

• Break up the unplowed ground: what part of your pasture have you not given Him yet?
• 100-fold harvest: Quality. Treasure the wonder, protect the heart, expect the test, dig the roots, stop the choke, and retain the Word
• Biblical malapropism: any time we take God's Word out of the Word.
• We are made competently competent by God (2 Tim. 3: 16-17)
• "When the season of testing exceeds the season of believing, we are headed toward a season of falling."
• Have some abiding words--Scripture you know by heart.
• Trials come from God to make us stand; temptations come from Satan to make us fall.
• Roots are as deep as we are convinced God loves us.
• At first, accept what grows by itself (spiritually); after you get to the point you can, GET INTO THE WORD.
• God will birth your passion from your pain.
• Worry does not allow God to get through to work through us.
• God placed his promises over me--His destiny FOR me--before the world began.
• We go through trials in order to influence others--if we thrive after disaster.
• Sow your seed in the morning because we have a supernatural capacity to to hear God first thing in the morning.
• Harvest takes time, so DON'T QUIT. Believe God for the finished work.

Birthday! Candles!

We blew out candles, brought out the presents, and added a little something extra for Charissa's birthday last Tuesday. (And I misplaced my cable until today, so sorry for the delay!)

Back Home

Brian just asked me if I was happy to get away this summer. My answer: YES!

First, Charissa, Rich and I went to the Schoonovers' in Kansas for...not nearly long enough. We had a terrific visit with Marvin, Jody, Chas, Shane, and Candy. We can't get back fast enough. That's all I know. Check Rich's blog for the details. I hope to post some things soon.

Today, we returned from a quick trip to Tennessee. Michael, Brian's brother, graduated from the police academy in Nashville. As a big bonus, we got to see brothers Darrin (6-7 years and two trips to the Middle East since we saw him), Dennis (4 years since we saw him), and their kids (4-7 years since we saw them, and one was missing this time). Patrick didn't get to go because he left for Africa today. It was a shame his family and Shannon were missing. It's been 7 years since we were all together, and that "all" didn't include the 4 grandchildren who have come along since.

Of course, the other reason we were there was to enroll Brennan in NADC. As excited as I am for him, I can't lie: it was tough--so tough that I couldn't hug him when we left for fear of losing it. He looked like he was about to, too. Last week when he left, I could tell myself we'd see him this weekend. We saw him sooner. Now I can't say I'll see him before the end of August. That makes it even harder, but it's part of raising kids. I guess it's time for us all to grow up a little more.

Prom Time!!!

Today, Brennan goes to senior prom. Take a look at this handsome dude and his friends!

Stolen from Jody

1. Beer: batter
2. McDonald's: fries
3. Relationships: Nice
4. Purple: People Bridge
5. Power Rangers: Bart, Brett, Brennan
6. Steroids: Baseball
7. Cartoons: Bugs Bunny
8. The President: W
9. Tupperware: Burp
10. Florida: Electoral joke
11. Santa Claus: Ho ho ho!
12. Halloween: Black cat
13. Alice: in Wonderland
14. Grammar: school
15: Myspace: Stupid
16. Clowns: Bozo
17. Marriage: Happy
18. Paris: France
19. Pat: Boone
20. Pass the: butter
21. One night stand: Gross
22. Donald Trump: Power trip
23. Neverland: "I won't grow up."
24. Pixie: Sticks
25. Vanilla ice cream: chocolate syrup
26. Hooters: Brian (He HATES that place. Seriously.)
27. High school musical: Disney money scheme
28. Pajamas: cozy
29. Woody: Woodpecker
30. Wet Socks: Cold feet
31. Love: and marriage

Lesson for Today

Never answer the classroom door to your custodial staff while saying, "...handsome lover."

Coolness from this morning and other stuff

1. While the story itself isn't cool, the fact that I have a visible diet partner is. One of our Care Group friends has been COMMANDED by the doc to diet. I told her that we're in this thing together.
2. I have taken the role as the co-leader of the Women's Bible Study ministry at church. That came out of the blue! Our study guru has stepped aside due to new callings outside and inside the church. I'm looking forward to meeting with other Women's Ministry leaders one night a month to develop and continue our Bible study events--not to mention an over-nighter weekend after next at a B&B that I've wanted to do for a long time!

Brian is conked out on the couch right now. He was up from 4:45 Thursday morning until 11:00+ Friday morning, working 28-1/2 hours straight. Nuts? Yes.