Sad Commentary

What a sad commentary this story is on our societal values.

Hundreds of people, one after the other, stepped on the 34-year-old store employee in an effort to get the "best deal". Are you kidding me? What deal is so important that it's worth lining up 9 hours before opening, standing in a crowd of thousands, breaking doors, and trampling on another human, ultimately taking his life?

I consider myself to be quite the sale shopper but nothing, absolutely nothing, is worth that to me. I don't even venture near a retail store the day after Thanksgiving, probably because I don't have the right mentality.

Life is valuable....prices are not...things are not. Mob mentality is frightening. I heard someone say once "a person is smart; people are dumb." I think that fits here.

If only we'd learn to view life as God does. Every single one of us is loved by God, from conception to their natural, appointed death.

Wrap-Up

I generally take far more pictures on holidays than this but I was so into my own game of Uno Spin that I got distracted. Generally my mom is not a game player, unless it's Tripoley but she joined us for this game and we laughed so hard. Edward, Steve, and the kiddos had great fun with the Wii games (a few pics below).

Every year I use name cards which I've thoroughly done in the spirit of the day. But this year I added something I thought would be really fun but was a bit uncertain anyone else would. On each card I had at "would you rather" question that was different for all. I thought it would be a great conversation piece and it turns out I was right. An example is "would you rather be hairy all over or completely bald?" Some of the answers were hilarious. The great thing is that today my mom came over to help with Christmas decorations and she was still mulling over one particularly intriguing answer. The end result is exactly what I'd hoped! I guess the point is that there is always more to learn about people, even those in your own family.

It's so great to be in a house filled with laughter, with familiarity, and with love. I wish my little brother Craig and his wife, Kayrene could have made it. The only thing missing is actually not a thing but rather a person...my dad. I'll never completely get over it. I can do life but it's just not the same.

Approved sibling fighting:


Erica was pretty excited - she KO'd Uncle Steve:

Thanksgiving Top 10

The other day I heard that being thankful makes a person healthier and journaling about thankfulness is better yet. Now, I don't know how they (the experts) prove or test that but I think they are on to something. In Colossians 3:15 God commands us to be thankful. After telling us to let Christ rule in our hearts and that we're called to peace there is a stand alone sentence (at least in the NIV). And be thankful. So, in the spirit of the holiday I took some time in my journaling this morning to create a top 10. Here they are:

1. Christ - his shed blood and salvation.
2. Steve - a Godly husband who loves me as Christ loves the church.
3. Mom and Dad - Godly parents who taught me at an early age the value and importance of a relationship with Christ and laid solid foundations (for clarification of why that is critical, see Matthew 7:24-27).
4. Siblings - I learned to socialize at an early age and that life is not all about me. They are also those who know the heartache and feelings of loss within the family unit and joy over the great things. They understand.
5. Erica & Peter - both of these darlings were born at crucial times in my life. For a girl who will never have a child of her own, these two are angels in disguise. As I type this I'm watching Erica and Steve play Wii and am reminded it was 18 1/2 years ago when I found out I'd never have a child of my own. Erica was 3 months old.
6. Spiritual family & friends - those who love and encourage me on the path of sanctification and accountability.
7. A place of ministry. What an honor to be in service for the King. Could there be a better boss?
8. A home. I do not take this for granted. Much of the world doesn't have this luxury and God has really taught me over the last year that it is just a tool for Him to use. In the meantime I get the pleasure of living in it.
9. Health. This one I definitely don't take for granted. I have had seasons (aka years) where I did not have this. With the exception of my annual physical and dental cleanings, I have only been to the doctor once this year. What a huge praise!
10. Job(s). Actually, the ability to work and make a living. It's all a gift from God.

And so many more to be sure but the title is "top 10" so continuing on would make that a lie.

I have enough. More than enough.

Psalm 100: A psalm for giving thanks: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Two Funny Conversations

I so love Peter and Erica. Today I got to spend the morning with Peter. While his exuberance is sometimes overwhelming, generally I love being around such energy and a carefree spirit. I feel free to be impulsive and spontaneous. Mostly he plays right off me but once in a while he zings me with a doozy. Today was such a day.

He looked at me and said, "Aunt Julie, you are something else!"

He didn't say what that something else was but I think we both knew he meant I was odd.

Yesterday I was telling a friend of mine about a conversation Steve and I had earlier that morning. After I told her what was said, I remarked, "you know, if something ever happened to Steve, I could never get married again because I'm so weird and nobody would ever understand it."

She replied, "and this is a new revelation to you?"

Filled With Power

Today was amazing. I've known for a couple of months that I would speak to the MOPS group this morning. However, as is always the case, I grew increasingly insecure the closer it got. As recently as last night I sat on the floor in my bedroom telling God I just couldn't do it and contemplating how I could best wiggle out of it. His answer was a firm "you can't. Don't even think about it."

This morning I thought back to the sermon from 2 weeks ago where my pastor talked about what power we have in Christ. One of the things he talked about is that we have the power to teach and disciple. I stopped what I was doing and said "God, you've given me this power. It's in you. This is not about me, not about my insecurity. It's all in you. Satan has no control or part in this. Give me your confidence."

And He did. I have never felt such power, such control. It was the most amazing experience. The best part is that I can't take one bit of credit which is exactly how it should be. I prepared, I showed up, but God did the rest. I was calm, cool, and collected. I didn't say exactly what I had planned but just went with the prompting of the Spirit.

But he said to me "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The truth. Plain and simple.

In A Play

I'm pretty excited to be in a Christmas musical this year. I was supposed to have a very, very small part in it last year but as you might recall I had that weird unknown problem with my lip and required immediate surgery so I missed out. I called it my freak face. I still have some discomfort associated with my lip even though I've seen the surgeon for 2 follow up visits. He's assured me I will regain full feeling but I'm no longer convinced that's true since it's been a year. Mostly I don't notice it but occasionally I am keenly aware of the numbness and small bump that still exists. And sometimes I struggle with angioedema (a fancy medical term for rapid swelling). I guess it's not so bad. In the big scheme of things though, it could be far worse.

But the point of the post is that I was offered a part again this year but I had to promise no weird lip abnormalities because while it's a small part, the play wouldn't be the same without it. I am SO excited! I've got a few songs to learn too and really, who knows the 2nd and 3rd verses of "We Gather Together" anyway? You'll soon be able to count me among the 12 others who do know it.

I was telling a friend about this exciting venture and here's what she said in an email:

Congratulations! Break a leg - or should I write "pop a lip?"

HILARIOUS!!

Completely Out Of Sync

Have you ever had one of those days when you're completely out of sync with someone you're really close to and with whom you're generally on the same page? Steve and I had one of those days yesterday. It was a day filled with "what?", "where?", and just plain "huh?" Here's an example...he called me around 11 a.m. and it went like this:

S: Do you want to meet with XX (names removed, obviously) Friday at 4 in Laurel?

J: I'm usually still at work at 4.

S: I know.

J: Oh. You want me to take the day off?

S: No.

J: Can we do a different time?

S: No, that's when they can do it. Maybe I'll see if they can do Saturday.

J: No, that doesn't work for us. Did you remember we already have plans that night with YY?

S: Yeah. What time is that (clearly he did not remember)?

J: 6:00...as in we need to be there by 6. Not you on your way or picking me up at 6.

S: This won't take that long.

J: Okay. So what about this appointment?

S: Well you don't have to be there. Maybe I can find someone else. (Julie's note: Steve never meets with a woman alone, not even in public. He'll meet in his office if other staff members are around but otherwise he has me tag along for protection.)

J: Isn't her husband coming?

S: Yes.

long pause...

S: It's okay, you don't need to be there. I'll just go ahead.

J: Alright, then. See you later.

At lunch I told him how very confused I was. He made an appointment at a time when he knew I worked, didn't want me to take the day off, and I didn't even need to be there. Why the heck did he call me then? The answer was "that's when they can do it because he gets off at 3:30." WHAT?!? Doesn't a meeting require a time when BOTH parties can be there? And he knew I would be working? And I didn't need to be there? I'm still very confused.

I'm glad that day is over. It didn't get any better from there.