"Blessed are . . ."

While serving with Mercy Ships, "Blessed are the flexible" became our favourite beatitude.  Imagine my surprise when today - fourteen years after we started serving with Mercy Ships - I finally heard the rest of the verse:

"Blessed are the flexible

 for they shall not be bent out of shape." 

Be blessed!  Be flexible!

The E-Mail Never Sent

I received an e-mail this week from the Native American Liaison for the school district.  He wrote, "I'm curious what Micah's ACT score was."  The mental response I wrote was, "And I'm curious why you need to know!"  Fortunately, I never sent that e-mail.  

When Micah came home later that day, she shared with me that he had called her into the office to tell her he had funds available and was willing to pay for her to retake her ACT's if she'd like to try and up her score.  Restraint is good!

The Winter Coat

Everyone in my house OWNS a winter coat; just not everyone in my house WEARS a winter coat!  

This week when our temperatures were bone-numbing negative numbers with incredibly freezing wind chills,  I noticed my beloved son wearing his jacket to work and out with friends.  I asked him what was up.  "Mom, it's cold out there!"

Meanwhile, number one daughter wore her coat to walk the dog AND she put it in her car when she drove to school.  Definite atypical high school behavior, but warm!

Mine, you know, is on until the temps are a bit closer to 50*F!

Then, there's that last member of our family who was chewed out by the school social worker for not having his coat on for bus duty!  Part of it is - he forgot his coat in Iowa last weekend (I know, go figure!).  The other part is - he's just not cold like the rest of us are!  Oh, to have that problem . . . 

Cake Wars!

Micah's culinary arts class at North had a cake wars competition this past week.  You'll be glad to know that her team won with their cake called "Winter".

With over seventy teachers voting for the winner, "Winter" garnered forty votes!  Congratulations, Micah and team!

Thankful Thursday!

Some Thursdays are far more thankful than others!  Today was one of them . . . 

. . . In my haste to get to the pool before the crowds arrived this morning, I missed putting my contact in my left eye - quite the easy miss at 6 a.m.  I couldn't find it anywhere, so I tossed in a new one, not sure if I had one or two contacts in my eye!  I was thankful for the text from Sam telling me he had found my contact.  Unfortunately, he did nothing to rehydrate it . . . 

. . . The pool was empty.  I had the most wonderful final early morning swim before I return to my regular hours next week - swimming just before lessons.  I was thankful for how lovely it was . . . 

. . . The glass I broke this morning caused damage only to the glass.  I laughed - thankfully - because it was a year ago that I got six stitches in my leg when I broke a plate . . .

. . . but I am most thankful that after my long walk with Annie at lunch in 0*F weather no less, I was able to get back into the house!  The keypad to our garage down only lets us shut the door, it no longer works to open it.  We're not sure why, but whatever "repairs" Sam has tried have not worked.  Unfortunately, I forgot to unlock the side garage door so I could get back in.  We were slightly numb when I figured that out - but I knew where our spare key was hidden!  I grabbed it, only to discover I couldn't open the key case.  Off to see my seventy-some-year-old neighbor Bernice who went after the case with a screwdriver, successfully opening it and getting my key out!  The poor dog's teeth were chattering so bad by the time I got her in, but I was ever thankful to be IN!

My sister-in-law, Debbi, sent me this from "Joy of My Heart", a daily devotional by Anne Graham Lotz.  I wanted you to enjoy it, too!

Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Psalm 63:3, NKJV No means of measure can define God’s limitless love . . . No far-seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply . . . No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings . . . He forgives and He forgets. He creates and He cleanses. He restores and He rebuilds. He heals and He helps. He reconciles and He redeems. He comforts and He carries. He lifts and He loves. He is the God of the second chance, the fat chance, the slim chance - Just give me Jesus!

Happy New Year!

I'm quite curious - 

does being awakened at midnight by the fireworks at Buck Hill

count as being awake to welcome in the New Year?