things I have been hearing ....

how you are is as important as what you do

saved message on my phone, I love you nana

it is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth

tweet, tweet, tweet, from a toddler listening to the bird song

My joy is your strength

may I forbid that the lure of the market-place should ever entirely steal my heart away from the love of God the blue sky and the green trees

the buzzer of the dryer

I have great confidence in you. I take great pride in you ....

I will be your God throughout your lifetime-until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

the train horn

side note from hearing is seeing my kitchen counter cleared off and just enjoying sitting in my kitchen as I hear ....

Happy Birthday Terry!

This is the man that fell in love with me almost 37 years ago! I love the way he cares for me, loves me, encourages me, supports me! I love the husband, father, grandfather he has become. I love you Terry more than you may ever know. I hope this day is wonderful for you in every way!

Monday Gratitude Pages, July 25, 2010

Have you ever pondered, noodled, thought about the gifts, that you received just today. I love that I can consciously think on these things each Monday with the goal of reaching 1000 gifts. I have much to be grateful for today as always. I think that this has become my new favorite way to spend my Mondays ... thinking about gratitude.

gifts 41-63

rest
work (a sub job with Kidstop today)
love
marriage
home-made gluten-free bread
food in our fridge
cold running water to drink
a grocery list
forgiveness
starbucks (tall hot chai on my way to work, a tall is a bit less expensive than a grande and has less calories)
simplifying my stuff
books
the King of Glory
the fact that the King speaks directly to my heart
watching the children laugh while bowling
a school bus ride
letting the kids do the talking
air-conditioning
the groceries on the list in the fridge
the hamburger already for taco salad (thanks Terry)
the couch where I can lay my head to rest
the computer where I can read other's thoughts
my bible that as I finish my day is read

In His Arms, B.

Shhhhhh, my Husband's Birthday is Tomorrow!

July 26, 2010
Monday Evening Pages

OK, so tomorrow is my husband's birthday. He is eight years older than me but if you don't know how old I am than you really don't know how old he will be tomorrow. He is the kind of guy that has everything he would like in the line of stuff, therefore I am not intending to buy him anything, but I am excited to give him a gift this year. I think I am more excited about this gift than any other gift I have given him. I have been thinking about the gift for over a month but I am glad I have another week to prepare my gift for him. You see, since 3 birthdays all happen between July 27-August 9, our family gathers for one big birthday bash for Ashley, Kelley, and Terry. That celebration will happen next Tuesday evening at our home. So the secrets yet another week away, but once the day has come and gone the secret will be posted. So .... come on back next week!

Monday Gratitude Pages July 19, 2010

Gifts 18-40

friends

family

campfires

s'mores on gluten-free cookies made by a friend

good teaching from the Scriptures

walk by the river with my friend, neighbor, and sister in Christ, Kaye

listening time with the Lord

catch-phrase

laughter

storms

safety in the storms in Dave and Ruth's home, close to William O'Brien State Park, under the log stairs, singing hymns and chorus's'

freedom to pray

dry sleeping bags

falling asleep to the rain on the tent

learning how to make campfire donuts

meeting back up with my husband

warm, running, water

good books

that Ashley desires to serve our Country

a phone recorded message from Annika, age 2, "I love you nana!"

the fusion community http://www.newhopechurchmn.org/youngadult/index.php

a weather cool down so sleeping in the townhome with the windows open is a choice

cool air coming through the screens that my husband put on as I fall asleep!

Nobody Wants To Read That!

I was going to post about how I was up at 3 am with my granddaughter Pru 'cause maybe we moved her out of her port-a-crib too early

Then I was going to write about how hungry I got when I woke up and 3 am

But I thought surely I would fall back asleep even though I was hungry

Then I was going to write about how if Terry had left with a little bit more quiet in his step Sid maybe would have slept later than 4 am

I thought surely no one wants to read that and then I thought it would be fun to post the verses I am attempting to memorize in Eph 4

And some how I began to think about how I could feel so bla today with cute kids running and playing and smiling at me

Then I wondered if it would help to lay on the couch and watch Sid the Sicence Guy and it did

Finally I was getting ready to go on the women's camping retreat and decieded I would be more fun to be around if I took a nap

Now I am packed and ready to go and finally past the sleeping children and grandma and excited to learn to Fix My Focus ... the theme for this years retreat!

What's going on in your world today?

My inspiration for this post came for www.jumpingtandem.com

http://www.jumpingtandem.com/2010/07/nobody-wants-to-read-that.html#links

Keeping Company

morning pages from the word
July 14, 2010

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life, I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (The Message)

Looking forward to keeping company today with Him, my husband Terry as we shop for the food shelf, my daughter Kelley, her kids, and Ms Cathy, as we go to the library, my good friend, Keli Moen, who I have not seen it seems like forever, as we enjoy lunch. And I will be continuing to keep company with Him in the school of praying unceasingly.
Notes from my handwritten journal ...

I have a good friend ....She is always asking thought-provoking questions. She often asks me, "what is God teaching you through His word these days?, or how has God answered prayer in your life this week?" When I ask her questions about the Word she often turns it back to me by saying, "that's a good question, that's a worthy question, what do you think?" It's what I love about this friend, she causes me to think and to grow spiritually

.
As I was keeping company in the word this morning I was keeping company with Stephen in Acts 7.

Remember Stephen in Acts 7?

Am I looking in, out, up, and around, to see the glory of the Lord?

I proceeded to our back yard and both looked and listened to His Glory ... These are my questions today ....

Have you seen the glory of the Lord in the flowers?

Have you rested long enough to hear the water coming from the pump that once belonged to you earthly father?

Are you hearing My wind blowing through the trees?

Are you listening to the wind chimes created (seemingly out of nothing) by your earthly father-in-law?

Are you hearing the blue jays (made by the Creator) squawking for their peanuts?

Do you wait for the creator of the bird feeder to wake to feed the blue jays?

I love that the father of our children, my husband, Terry, cares so much about the birds that he daily feeds them peanuts from inside the top of the home made recycled Weber grill bird feeder!

I am certain that the questions in my mind will continue to come forth. I look forward to a day of keeping company with the Lord and others I come in contact with!

Remaining In His Arms, B.

A Mentor

A mentor is someone who has been to where you want to go and knows some of the best routes to get there. Think of a mentor as an Indian scout. He knows the country and terrain, brings back advanced reports on what is up ahead, and leaves all the decisions to you. The mentor doesn’t control you; he helps you reach your objective.

Found this definition of a mentor at

http://chosenrebel.wordpress.com/mentor-groups/

Thought it was good so I recorded today in my online journal!

Monday Gratitude Pages, July 12, 2010

the path we choose for ourselves isn't necessarily the path God chooses for us ....

this was my path today

pray unceasingly
read
write
laundry
glasses
finish my closet
minutes for Liberia meeting
cards to book study women
visa application
toys

this was God's path today ....

learn what it means to pray unceasingly and begin to practice
read the word, read Holy Experience Blog http://aholyexperience.com/
received a kiss and hug from my husband before he went golfing
1. thanked God for my husband
laundry
organized some toys
read some more
called Carrie to tell her about Holy Experience
received a text from my daughter, Kelley asking if a walk was on my list
a 2 mile bike ride to meet my grandchildren at the park
2. thanked God for my strong legs to bikelaid down with my granddaughter 'til she fell asleep
3. thanked God for restlistened to my grandson repeat my prayers for him in his own little way
watched my other granddaughter sleep in her mommy's arms on my couch
4. thanked God for healthy children and grandchildrenhung more laundry on clothesline
5. thanked God for the sunshineate some tuna salad on gluten free crackers with a cold glass of water
6. thanked God for food on our table
held the new born granddaughter
7. thanked God for her little body and the joy it brings me to just hold her
ran down the block to watch the train with Sid and Pru
laughed and sang the ABC's, bringing home a baby bumble bee, one elephant and the monkeys jumping on the bed with Sid and Pru
waved goodbye to Kelley and the kids
laid down and took a nap
read some e-mails
had a quiet supper while watching the news

practicing gratitude ...

grateful for

8. His sufferings
9. His love
10. His kindness
11. His faithfulness
12. His peace
13. His love
14. His grace
15. His mercy
16. His provisions
17. His plan

# 4 As a Teacher I must be Organized

July 5, 2010
Late Evening Pages

1. got out of bed this morning
2. took a shower
3. read the scriptures and prayed a bit (mostly prayed throughout the day)
4. got toys ready for grandkids
5. started moving teaching stuff with Kelley (my personal super organizer)
6. continued moving teaching stuff with Kelley
7. played with the grandkids while Kelley moved stuff
8. moved more teaching stuff and other stuff
9. Kelley posted the hide-a-bed on craigs list
10. got pail of water ready for sid and pru to play in
11. moved more stuff
12. moved more stuff while Kelley gave the children baths
13. made lunch for the kids
14. moved more stuff while Kelley laid the kids down for naps
15. Beth to Kelley, "really it's only 11 am, it feels like 4 pm, can we stop now?"
16. Kelley to Beth, "are you kidding, no way!
17. made lunch for us (taco salad)
18. moved more stuff
19. laughed
20. moved more stuff,
21. Kelley hung up picture, laughed some more
22. changed my shorts
23. moved more stuff
24. laughed some more, did not have to change my shorts this time
25. moved treadmill into the closet, next to the video player, tape recorder, CD player (no more excuses not to use it since I can watch old movies, listen to music or read a book on tape or CD while exercising).
26. did I say Kelley moved stuff? If not Kelley did move a lot of stuff!
27. Organized to a "4"
28. supper (tuna salad sandwiches with Terry)
29. coffee (at Caribou with Ashley)
30. errands to rei and traders joes
31. pictures will be posted soon ... Good Night!