'Ten Things for Tuesday' Returns!

Well, it's not quite as good as The Return of the King (Tolkien's book, not the movie), but it'll have to satisfy you folk who actually care to hear something from the deep recesses of my brain. Or, my brain on recess...which is the more likely event.

Anyway, I just thought I'd free associate for a moment, using a satisfying-to-the-structure-needer-in-me format known as a list. Pretty cool stuff you can learn here, huh? {that'll keep 'em coming back!}

Here we go:

1. I swear I'm a lady, but the steak I am currently eating actually caused me to drool just now. Perhaps a lady wouldn't have mentioned that... (The ladies in the audience just said, "Ewww." The men just said, "Steak?")

2. I think some people are praying for me, as I feel like me life is slowing settling back down--emotionally, physically, spiritually. I wouldn't say I'm out of the proverbial woods (and I'm pretty sure that would mean being in heaven anyway), but things are definitely better than they were 4 or 8 weeks ago. If you are one of those peeps, I thank you very, very much.

3. I've been able to FINALLY start doing a little bit of exercise again. I've done 4 sessions of Pilates in the past 8 days, and I'm feeling mighty fine about it. I haven't been able to start running (or even walking for exercise) yet, but I now actually have hope that I might be able to again. The challenge will be to hold myself back until my body is ready.

4. One can lose a lot of muscle tone in, say, 4.5 months of non-exercise. This is not a hypothesis; it is a conclusion.

5. I just learned how little I like starting over. On the other hand, I also learned that I really love it when my muscles hurt from working out. These balance out in the end, I think.

6. In most areas of life, I am an optimist. However, when it comes to the health of my body, I've realized lately that I am a pessimist. There is some legitimacy in my persuasion, but it's still not a great perspective. I've decided to try to work on this. But I hope that doesn't mean I have more health issues in my future... :-)

7. I think I am no longer an extrovert, if an extrovert is defined (as Myers-Briggs does) by someone who draws their energy from others. I still LOVE people, but I find I must have a substantial amount of down/quiet time to balance these interactions. I have been surprised to discover that people drain me. Now the question is...was I always like that and have just now settled into who I am? ...or, Did I become this way due to aging, being single, etc., or some combination thereof? It is moot, I suppose, but a curiosity.

8. I wish it was (were?!) appropriate for me to speak the way they did in Georgian England. I think I could do a splendid job of sounding Jane Austen-ish. And, I miss the vocabulary! {oh, to use big words and not be thought of as a snob/freak/Yankee}

9. I love the Olympics! Love, love, love! However, I always kinda thought Ice Dancing was, well, skanky. I watched some this year, and while some of it WAS skanky, there was actually some talent and taste on the ice. I am very pleased over the gold and silver medalists' performances.

Didn't think I could get this far, did we?

10. I will probably sound nuts trying to put these thoughts into words, but the older I get, the more amazed and humbled and grateful I become: I love God so much. So much more than I used to. I love that I get to know Him and love Him. I love that His Word is deeper than my brain can attain and wider than my thoughts will ever go...yet is is accessible to any thinking child. It is a miracle that I will sing of over and over in eternity. I love that we get all of eternity to know and discover God. Our God is awe-worthy.

Well, I can't really go up from there, so I'll 'go dark.'

Alive in Him,

-J

"Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed." -Revelation 15:3b, 4, NIV

Yes-es

A week or two ago, someone posted a question on Facebook:

What are you most proud of in life?

A powerful, clarifying question, don't you think?

I pondered it for a few days, and finally reached a conclusion. A surprising conclusion: The list was not important...but what each item on that list had in common was important.

Each item in my life that would make that list--each of them--was something which was simply a "Yes," to God's call. There is not one thing on my very short list (which shall remain private) that wasn't simply me saying, "yes," when God said, "Go," or, "Do this." Usually, in the face of great personal fear.

Every. single. item. of which I could be proud was simply an act of obedience to God's call.

Makes me glad I can hear His voice.

Kinda makes me want to say yes more often. :-)

Blessed to be led by Him who knows no bounds,
-J

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him... --2 Chronicles 16:9a, NIV

I Am Alive

Yes, really, I am! Alive, I am! :-)

I know it's hard to verify when I am absent from here. I'm sorry about that. I want to be here more, but since I haven't really been able to do so--for so many reasons--I'll just apologize to you and work on not beating myself up over it.

But I wanted you to know, I am alive!

Still questioning? Let me prove it:

See! This photo was taken during one of the most wonderful weeks of my life. My entire immediate family--all 16 and 1/2 of us--were gathered under one (rented) roof for an entire week in early January. It has been 4 years since that happened, and one spouse and three children have been added in the interim. And it will most likely be that many years or more before it ever happens again.

But oh, the gift of those precious hours and days together. Almost all the people I love best together under one roof... So many hours spent playing and singing and gaming and cooking and eating... It was wonderful. Truly, a jewel crafted by the Lord and given as a gift to me/us. I am so grateful!

Wanna see all of us crazy folk? Well, we don't usually clean up this good, but...

Happy days are here again!

I'll try to be back soon. It feels surprisingly good to be typing these things. And, as usual, I've got stuff on my heart to share. Let the therapy and praising begin!

Blessings until then,
-J

P.S. An extra for you: Here's what happens when an aunt tries to get a pic with all the nieces & nephews...even though the pictures caused them to miss nap time...

I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me. --Psalm 13:6, NIV