On August 31, Daddy will be gone 18 years...one year more of missing him,

one year closer to seeing him again

Daddy wrote this poem when I was 3 months old...

FOR THIS CHILD WE PRAYED

By William H. Rutherford

One day we prayed
Not for a little girl
Not even for a child

We had been joined short weeks ago
In holy bond

God made His presence real
Through happy days
In wondrous ways
We saw the riches of His grace
From place to place

In different ways
He led us to Himself
To closer be

One day, one week, one month we prayed
Not for a little girl
Not even for a child
But this: to better know His will for days to come

One day we saw God in a child’s face
And that day knew His will
Frail product of His matchless grace
To teach us how to pray, believe and live
Our place to fill

For days to come, this is our task – His will
To take this life from Him
And teach it, show it how to live

That she may someday choose
To give her life back to Him.

2/10/66

Not Again!

Oh my word. I avoided the pulpit recently because I don't want to hear political comments from the platform. It's 4 for 4 with certain messages.  Political comments don't belong there. Especially when the bias is showing.  I for one don't care what candidate they are talking about - it is not appropriate. The Bible reminds us to pay our taxes and pray for our leaders.  And that all governments are put in place by God - and that one day, every knee will bow. Can't think of a verse or passage where Jesus was disrespectful to the leaders of His day - even as they crucified Him.

I won't even get into the whole Christianity does not = Americanism.  There are plenty of places that explain it better than I could.

redletterchristians.org

(as in following Jesus' words (the ones in red lettes in some New Testaments) )

sojourners.com

So in church can we just concentrate on worshipping Jesus? Learning to become more like Him? And loving like He did?  And remembering what God requires of us who call ourselves Christians?

Micah 6:8 - "Do justice. Love mercy.  And walk humbly with God."

Lord help me.

Psalm 46:10 was my personal verse today.

• “Be still (another version puts it "Cease Striving" - and that's a tall order for me to follow sometimes)
• and KNOW (accept, meditate on)
• that (what?  Here is is....)
• I am God" (i.e. He does not need my help!)

SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS 2011

Dorney Park with our friends the McCarthys

Nick's first trip with the youth group to Harvey Cedars (a town on Long Beach Island, NJ)

The Bible camp there has a week just for junior highers - about 70 from our church joined some other churches.  A week of great speakers, worship bands, sports, beach time, and all the crazy fun junior highers can have by just being the awesome kids that they are



My sister Kristen's son, Matthew, age 10, flew out to see us and we had an awesome time showing him parts of PA, NYC, and the Jersey Shore. 

Here are some pictures that capture our time with him (he's an awesome kid, self assured, very polite, and definitely has the gift of encouragement - I'll never forget him cheering Nick on during 2 outdoor summer league basketball games.) He also has a great laugh.

Making the "Lemonade for Sale" sign

First customer - Great Uncle Bob drove all the way from NJ in his BMW and

paid the boys $5 each - what a guy!

Ocean City, NJ

All tuckered out on the way home

A favorite stop in NYC - Dylan's Candy

(Dylan Lauren - don't each too much or you won't fit

in her father Ralph's jeans)



It Is Well

On November 21, 1873, while crossing the Atlantic the S.S. Ville Du Havre was struck by an iron sailing vessel and two hundred and twenty six people lost their lives, including all four of hymn writer Horatio Spafford's daughters.

Somehow, his wife Anna survived. She sent a telegram to Horatio with the words "Saved Alone."

Spafford then took a ship to England, going past the place where his daughters had died. The hymn "It Is Well" was written in 1873 in mid-Atlantic.

Today, October 1, we are dealing with the aftermath of a lot of flooding in PA.  It makes me think of the Flood of '55 that took the lives of my dad's first wife and kids - now I really get it, why when I was a kid my dad sang with gusto in church that old hymn he loved....

"When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows rolll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well.It is well.with my soul"

That day in '55 was not OK. But eternity was. ♥ you Daddy.

N.B. Eminem - Peddle Your Crap Somewhere Else

Tonight my son and I downloaded a bunch of new songs on his ipod - nothing like sharing the headphones with him, enjoying everything from Michael Jackson to Green Day.  And he kindly told me some of "my songs" that are on his ipod, he could do withoout LOL!

Our main topic of conversation was the song he'd listened to with a friend on the bus today - apparently they are obsessed with Eminem's (he thought it was spelled "M & M") "Love The Way You Lie" - so we talked about it.

And why they like him, why he sings about hitting women, huffing, and every other abomination...why Megan Fox starts in the video (which we watched together - he was horrified...), how it all comes down to economics.

Sex sells.  Violence sells.  Macho sells.  And why we don't buy that stuff at our house.

Here is Eminem (with a little help from domestic abuse victim Rihanna - so sad):

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn

Well that's all right because I like the way it hurts

Just gonna stand there and hear me cry

Well that's all right because I love the way you lie

I love the way you lie

I can't tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like

And right now it's a steel knife in my windpipeI can't breathe but I still fight while I can fight

As long as the wrong feels right it's like I'm in fligh

tHigh off her love, drunk from my hate, it's like I'm huffin' pain

And I love it the more I suffer, I suffocate

And right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me, she fckkin' hates me

And I love it, "wait, where you goin'?""I'm leavin' you," "no you ain't come back
(HE HITS MEGAN FOX AND STRANGLES HER)

"We're runnin' right back, here we go againSo insane, cause when it's goin' good it's goin' great

I'm superman with the wind at his back, she's Lois Lane

But when it's bad it's awful, I feel so ashamed I snapWhose that dude?

I don't even know his nameI laid hands on her

I'll never stoop so low againI guess I don't know my own strength
(HE FEELS SORRY FOR PUMMELING HER IN THE VIDEO)

I just want her backI know I'm a liar if she ever tries to fuckin' leave again

I'ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire

I'll spare you all and end it there.

P.S.  Hey  Eminem........got a message for ya.  DON"T MESS WITH MY SON.

Going On Now!! BARGAINS & BLESSINGS BENEFIT

Had a great idea - I am going through my decor and those of you who know me know I have lots of great stuff between my stints in retail, work at a country decorating store, and love of bargains.


I have soooo many things now that it is time to weed through it all. It is on my deck (out back) - come and take what you want anytime between 9 am and 9 pm now thru Sept. 25.

I usually take things to the Goodwill or the Care & Share in Souderton, but that means driving it over, or setting up a pick up time, and I just don't have the energy.  Yes, I could use the tax receipt.  But....I am thinking this is the way God wants me go about it this time.  The following is just a sampling of the purses, furniture, dried flowers, seasonal decor, etc.



So it's yours and it's free - now thru on 9/25. But I'd also like it to be a blessing to those who don't have the luxury of weeding through their decor.  It's my idea of a gala.  Or a benefit.  Let's call it the "Bargains and Blessings Benefit".

Wayne, Nick and I will be spending the night with some homeless adults and children in a few days as they are housed at a local church for the month. In transition, these families (often kids at our local elementary schools) are in desperate need of practical encouragement.

If you are so inclined, you may leave a donation for the Interfaith Hospitality Network - money, Wawa gift cards, or canned/boxed (food) goods. If you give cash/gift cards, leave it under the mat on the deck.


We will donate these items on your behalf on Sept. 26.


Thank you and happy shopping!

A Very Good Tuesday

Today started out pretty well considering I went to bed a decent time, slept well (not always a possibility, even medicated), and did Yoga while Nick was finishing his homework. Did I say Yoga? As in exercise?

Wonders never cease! Yes, I took advantage of Comcast On Demand and did Yoga - for beginners. Now I know the Mountain Pose, Downward Dog (w/ my own accommodations), Child's Pose, etc. And I saluted the Son. Not the sun like the instructor said, but the One who made the Sun. I may never worship again like I did this morning, but I am full of hope!

It felt great, gave me energy, and didn't hurt my knees.

Then as Nick stood at the bus stop with his buds, I wore my Jackie-O sunglasses and hid incognito in the car with the paper and my coffee lest he be abducted by some stranger right under my nose (it happens, right?).

Then I was off to Bible Study - haven't been to a bible study at this church in several years - have had them in my house for a long time for other people. It was great, but always a lot of work, emotionally and spiritually. It was great to be refreshed this morning as I heard Priscilla Shirer (a black Beth Moore if you ask me! daughter of Tony Evans - awesome speaker) talk about the life of David. I'm excited to see how God works in my heart to help be me more like Him and as I mother my son into manhood.

Then I went shopping at my some of my favorite haunts - the thrift stores run by the Mennonites in Souderton. Scored: Coldwater Creek sweater for $8, candle holder in purple and green for $4, and a few other goodies. With what I dropped off at the back in terms of donations, I came out even thanks to the tax receipt.

Didn't hurt that I ran into 3 friends doing the exact same thing - one in particular, Judi M, reminded me how much I am loved. Sometimes you need that reminder!

After that it was time to pick up Nick so he could head home to hear President Obama speak to him. We started the tradition last year, that whomever is president, we will stop school and listen. Unfortunately, our district does not air the speech as some do - last year, they cited "technology concerns" as if it was too hard to hook up. Not that I believed that, mind you.

Many other districts around here followed suit. But this year, they wised up. Apparently, the figured out how to hook things up and work a President's live speech to school children into the curriculum. Amazing!

Not our district - they took the easy way out to avoid offending people. Whatever. (I really hate that word but to spare us all, I'll leave it at "whatever"). So I took Nick home, and the following is my new Facebook post:

thank you Mr. President for telling my son he needs to put forth "Effort" and not ride the coat tails of his natural ability. And for reminding us that his potential is "God-given". Wish you had been on my couch instead of on my TV when he said "since you took me out of school for the speech, can I just stay home for the afternoon?" HELLO! Have you not been listening to the President?? ♥

Then.......I headed to the middle school to be trained on "stream mapping" for an outdoor field trip. The highlight of the day was cooking with friends at an evening Pampered Chef party on my deck..complete w/ the firepit (tended my my hubby) and a warm cherry dessert.

All in all, a very good Tuesday.