babbling

There's a rose in Bethlehem colored red like mercy's blood...

This song is finally starting to sink into my soul and our dance is this Sunday...

White twirling skirts and Red. Silk. Bamboo. Fans.

I love dance.

Babies make a great audience, so long as they are properly fed and not tired.
They also make crunches more fun. Laughter and exercise all at once.

Babies. Twins. Girls. They are rolling all over the place now and one is trying to get up on all fours- ready to rock and roll. I am NOT ready for this.
These kids are my life- at least 8 hours a day. LOVE.

Cookies. Need. To. Stop.

Family is missed.

Cats are annoying and fun to torture-- in a non-violent way, of course. I do miss my Jazmine, though.

Must watch Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of Dawn Treader again!

SO much to do before Christmas.... Oy vey!
I think we should just give gifts to people in need and overseas instead of worrying about getting everyone on our list the perfect gift.

AND/OR we should give gifts periodically all winter so there is always something to look forward to in the cold and dreary season of winter.
So much anticipation is built into a single day or even week, and not to mention the stress. Why does it have to be this way?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Christmas. I just feel that we should spread out the joy and "Spirit of Christmas" and not get so caught up in the to-do's that we lose sight of the true meaning of Christ's birth....


PS. I like mail!! ;)

Laila Tov.

A story

There once was a girl who fancied herself a princess and dreamed about her prince charming coming to rescue her. --Disney was a great influence ;) --

She loved twirling in skirts and riding bikes, playing with dolls, climbing fences and haybales. She was a dreamer and often had her head in the clouds- mesmerized by the shifting shapes.

Though most misunderstood her, she did her best to make the most of every day and simply be herself.

As she got older, she sailed the stormy seas; drenched by the waves and clinging tightly to a G-d she barely knew. By His mighty hand, she finally reached calmer waters and praised Him for keeping her safe and giving her hope when all had seemed lost.

While most complained about their home in the plains, she found beauty in the grassy prairies and gently rolling hills. The G-d of details and beauty never ceased to amaze her as she examined the smallest blade of grass or the way a field of golden sunflowers would literally turn to face the sun.
Spring and early summer were her favorite times of year, and she watched in anticipation as the first flowers would spring forth from the semi-frozen ground and burst into bloom.
She loved observing the winter wheat turning from emerald green to tall amber waves of grain, dancing in the wind.
Something she very much enjoyed was sitting on the warm cement on a gusty summer day and watching the sky as a storm would roll in. It was magnificent and breath-taking.

This land of farms, tornados, short/tall grass prairies, sunflowers, and tractors was her home, and
there was so much beauty to behold if one would only slow down and have the eyes to see it.

The years went by and she found herself in a foreign, beautiful, and far too fast paced place called Maryland.

She learned a lot about herself and met some wonderful people in the years following her big move.

She learned she liked science, though it had always been so boring coming from a textbook.
She remembered that insects fascinated her --so long as they were not too close or unfortunate enough to wander into her home.

She re-discovered a joy in baking/cooking and reminisced of time spent with her grandmother in the kitchen.

She discovered a love for dance and ballet slippers.

She learned to sew and crochet.

She met great friends, and fell in like with sushi!

She was captivated by the ocean and the G-d who created the ocean.


..................
AND her creative juices suddenly retired for the evening.... THE END

The Princess and the Stinkbug

Once upon a time in the land of rain, a girl happened across a curious little bug. It was gray and slender and somewhat odd looking. It didn't look like quite like the armor-shaped warrior bugs she had come to know as stink bugs who infested buildings like a plague. Yet, something (or someone) deep inside of her told her to beware and proceed with caution.

Well, the girl thought it would be best to kill the creature and not let it stay and breed like wildfire and consume her home. So she did just that and just as she was getting ready to dispose of the unfortunte bug (against her better judgement) she thought she'd take a sniff to determine if she truly had stumbled upon a dreaded stinkbug.

Bad idea. She started choking and could not breathe for some time and felt sick for the rest of the night. The moral of the story... Trust your insticts and listen to that Still Small Voice....
the end.

Awaken our Hearts

It's raining here and as I was driving home this evening I saw what looked like lightning. So, as the rain continues to hit my window, I imagine a magnificent thunderstorm....

The thunder shakes the earth as the lightning illuminates the night sky. The flood gates of heaven are opened and rain is poured fresh upon the earth. In all of this I am left in awe of the G-d who created the storm; who created me. I can hear His mighty voice in the thunder, see his glory in the lightning and feel his spirit in the rain. I have a strong desire to stand in the midst of it and let it all consume me. ... If only it weren't so cold....

I have been running away from G-d for so long. I know He has a plan for my life and I hear Him speak to my heart, beckoning me to come closer and enter in to relationship. He speaks to me in dreams and tugs on my heart-strings. I desire to know Him and serve Him but something holds me back.

I have always feared I would be one whose love had grown cold. I feared I would be turned away and have to hear Him say "I never knew you". G-d never let it be so.

I hear Him say: "Run baby run. My hands release you baby. Run raby run as fast as you can. Run till your heart leads you to the real truth. You're my daughter, my son. Run baby run."

How can we run from G-d when He is all around us? It is humorous but we do it every day. Yet, He is always there, waiting for me and calling me back to Him and His love.

How I long to be drenched in the rain of His presence; to stand there in surrender as the water washes over me and there are no distracitons.

I miss the country. I miss wide open spaces where you can see land for miles and miles. I miss sitting in a field and hearing the wind rustle though the long stem grasses or wheat. I miss the wildflowers that added a splash of color and beauty in a sea of brown grasses. I miss the sound of the birds singing. I miss the smell of the alfalfa ripe for harvest with all those beautiful purple blooms. I miss the silence and the stars.In all of this I see the hand of G-d. I hear His gentle voice and I am left speechless.

"Jesus I long to be holy. Jesus I long to be real."
"Take me past the outer courts, into the holy place. Past the sacred alter, LORD I want to see your face. Take me past the crowds of people and the priests who sing your praise. I hunger and thirst for your righteousness. It's only found in one place. Take me into the holy of holies. Take me in by the blood of the lamb. Take me into the holy of holies. Take the scroll. Cleanse my lips. Here I am."

Sunday I met with some of my co-workers for a going-away brunch. One of the ladies was leaving and asked me to come with them. I didn't know when I'd see her again so I agreed. I was torn between that or church. She was blessed to have me come and I was blessed to get to spend a little time with these dear people I only see in the chaotic frame of work.

Well, I made it to church for the last 15 minutes and couldn't have been more glad I'd decided to step through those doors- late as I was. G-d's presence was clearly there and I felt my heart softening to Him. I don't know what Pastor was talking about but I know that Jesus was there. As I sat on the floor in the back of the room, away from people and distraction, I was overcome by the awareness of my need for Him. I knew that I needed to stop running away from Jesus and back into His arms, for real. Nothing half-hearted. A line of a song ran through my memory and it was all I could think of. "Oh I wanna yearn for You. I wanna burn with passion...."

Jesus is coming back for His Bride (the church- His people called by His name). But that Bride is not prepared. She doesn't have enough oil for her lamp and her dress is soiled. She has been lulled to sleep in apathy.
Daughter of Zion, throw off your bed clothes and wipe the sleep from your eyes. Prepare yourself for the wedding to come. Your Bridegroom is coming and you need to be ready.

Jesus, awaken our hearts to the knowledge of you. "Fill us with the knowledge of G-d, with the knowledge of You, with the knowledge of the Holy, Holy." Give us eyes to see you, ears to hear and a heart to understand all that you are speaking to us.

Sound the alarm on your holy hill. Blow a trumpet in Zion that the King of glory may come in. The hour is upon us and it is time to stop running from G-d and into His arms. He is the only safe place. Even so, come Lord Jesus.