Life can be overwhelming

I guess that's a dumb statement. God only gives us what we need for when we need it. I have experienced a very loooong year of testing and trying. Nothing hideous, just a period where we have been hanging on the garments of Christ hoping not to fall off, but rather to receive some of His power. When you get down to it, He can't work in a vessel already full or dirty. God has been emptying out our vessel, so he can fill it up again. My husband went to Kenya in 2005 and that started the worldview change that has been necessary for us to even get to this point. If you feel like you are under the thumb of God for some testing, you can be sure He can't wait for you to come out the other side, and you will, so he can show you great things.

I'm becoming what I'm reaching toward

I saw a card once with an ocean of water and a hand sticking out grasping for something, anything. I assume it meant, "help, I'm over my head" or something. Well, I have been reaching for Someone for over 30 years now. It is a constant stretching. Once I reach the point I was meant to reach, I grab on, rest, then the hand moves further away. Again, I move toward it, always reaching in the same direction. If I waver, I can't see the hand I'm to grab. Just like Peter on the water, he started to sink when he looked away. No matter what the circumstance, we have to constantly reach in the correct direction. God's hand never goes too far, but he wants us to stretch. Our faith needs stretching or it never will be enough.

When I think I'm going under, part the waters Lord, when I feel the waves around me calm the sea. When I cry for help, oh hear me Lord, and hold out your hand.

Obama/Biden (or is it Obama/Bin Laden)

HELP. Lord please remember your remnant. We want to be obedient.

My Book Club

I am a reader. I come from a long line of pleasure readers. I remember seeing Louis L'Amour books when I was a little kid that belonged to my great grandma Trigg. My family and I go in and out of stages. We read about one thing for a while, then get onto the next thing or place. We find a favorite author, read it to death, then go on to something else.

I decided I wanted to know more about the area where there is so much trouble and unrest. The place where Christ spent time, where the Muslims are trying to keep God from returning by sealing up the wall, etc. God told us about all of it in scripture. We can see Abraham's disobedience causing long-reaching, continuous problems. My mother and I and a friend read some New York Times best sellers, Afghanistan books (novels) called The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. These are must reads. They are not written by a Christian, but you can see the gospel throughout the entire thing. I felt closer to the Lord reading these books than I thought I would. The mess we are in wasn't God's original plan!

I also just finished a non-fiction novel called The Bookseller of Kabul. It is a very intimate book about family life in Afghanistan. Again, not a Christian author, but a truth-teller. (Asne Seierstad) I am amazed how I can see Christ, these people are desperate for the truth!

Here is a list of books you should get and read. I like to buy books, but with our current financial situation, I've gotten most of them from the library. I don't like romance novels, so you won't find any of those listed. I do have reputable authors though, if you are interested in such books.

Moving World Events/Places Books
The Kite Runner--Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns--Khaled Hosseini
Bookseller of Kabul--Asne Seierstad
With Their backs to the world, Portraits from Serbia--A. Seierstad
Russka--Edward Rutherford
Anna Karenina--Leo Tolstoy
One Night with the King (story of Esther in novel form)--Tommy Tenney

Freaky Christian Thriller Reads (pretty much anything by Ted Dekker)
Adam--Ted Dekker
Skin--Ted Dekker
House--Ted Dekker/
Saint--Ted Dekker
Waking Lazarus--T.L. Hines
The Watchers--Mark Andrew Olsen
Expiration Date--Eric Wilson

Reputable Romance/Lifestyle/non-suspense Authors
Karen Kingsbury
Francine Rivers (her books are heavy hitting, some historical, not your average easy read. I recommend reading these if you aren't interested in suspense/thrillers)

My mother, grandmother, sister and I cut our teeth on Janette Oke books. They are movies now and are wonderful. Girls starting in upper junior high could read these books and watch these movies.

New Nephew

Oh, by the way, I have a new nephew, Joshua Ryan (which is my brother's name, Ryan, that is.) Here is an angelic picture of him with his big brother, Jaybird, as I call him.

As the Dog Barks

Anybody out there identify with a nuisance barker--a dog that barks nonstop while the owners sit and do NOTHING???? Even when you call them on the phone, write them notes, and call the authorities. Do you know anyone that can sit in their house while the cops ring their doorbell repeatedly and NEVER ANSWER THE DOOR? What about someone whose car alarm is going off in their driveway at night while they sleep. Their doorbell is rung multiple times, they don't come to the door. The neighbors on either side have to come out and UNPLUG their battery. What about not spaying your cat and it has 3 kittens that poop and potty in MY LANDSCAPING, which smells like POOP!!!!!!!!!!! What's wrong w/ these people?????????? Their our neighbors, of course! We've been dealing w/ this for 9 years. Be glad, be very glad you don't live by the Buchners! If' you'd like to send them a letter telling them what morons they are, we'd be glad to deliver it to them.