Anne and I

"Yes, it's green," moaned Anne. "I thought nothing could be as bad as red hair. But now I know it's ten times worse to have green hair. Oh, Marilla, you little know how utterly wretched I am."
- Anne of Green Gables

I'd say "that makes two of us" if I didn't feel so much like laughing.

Stylin'

They call it "swimmer's hair." It is popularly believed to be caused by chlorine. It only afflicts blondes.

No, I haven't been swimming since last summer. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't caused by chlorine. And, yes, I'm very much an afflicted blonde.

I knew I'd developed into a bad case when someone laughingly told me that "it's not a bad shade of green."

It took us a few days and a little research to track down the cause: a very high copper content in our water.

I'm still figuring out what to do about it.

I am also left wondering why people pay good money for green hair. And taking comfort in knowing that I look good in hats.

The Song That Never Ends

So we are getting new carpeting in the living room.

(Pause for cheers!!! Wave goodbye to the purple and green!!!)

As we emptied the living room yesterday (again), I commented to Mom that it feels like we have been doing nothing but move for the last year and a half. It is hard to put my finger on a week in which we weren't packing something, unpacking something, moving furniture, or looking for a place to live. There hasn't been a day we haven't done without something that is safely packed away in a box somewhere.

Lately, we've had to just buy things. Even though we know we already have one...safely packed way in a box somewhere.

As some of you already know, the Lord recently made it clear that Dad's assignment to our church here in Oregon has ended. It was a shorter assignment than we expected. But, then, my expectations and God’s plan for me are frequently polar opposites.

All of which is to say that we're once again living in a state of suspense. Does the Lord have another church assignment for us? Does He intend for us to stay here? Does He plan for us to move on?

I really don’t know.

Mostly, I can only admit to being distinctively human with only a very ordinary thirst for adventure. I like to know where I’m going to sleep tomorrow night. It’s nice when next payday has a date on the calendar. And I don’t like the word “indefinite” when it comes to boxes in storage.

But how can I complain?

One of my favorite verses is Deuteronomy 8:2,3. That was where God reminded the children of Israel of the history of their relationship with them. He advises them to “remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee…to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”

Then He reminded them that He “humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna…that he might make the to know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”

If God had given Israel wheat and spinach, they wouldn’t have been hungry or expected anything more. And they would have totally missed out on the manna. Especially, they wouldn’t have learned to trust God and rely solely on His word for their living.

When I feel hungry for things I don’t have, I am learning to realize that the Lord is allowing that hunger…so that He can satisfy me with something deeper, something more ultimately lasting. My earthly security has been undergoing a slow but sure change of ownership process. I have been learning to trust what doesn’t change; I have been learning to be content when other things do change. And I know that’s what He always wanted.

And that knowledge is enough.

Enough to pack another box…or unpack…or repack. Enough to buy another set of measuring spoons even though I know we have a set safely packed away in storage. Enough to move furniture (again).

Enough to thoroughly enjoy new carpeting in a house we will probably sell soon.

It goes on and on, my friend…

Color Me Conservative

You probably never would have guessed this, but I am conservative.

I'm conservative in a lot of ways, but I honestly didn't think it showed that much. I mean, lately it's like I'm walking around with a big label on my forehead, "Bearer Is Conservative."

What really surprised me was when people started mentioning it.

Like a couple of weeks ago when I was sitting at my desk at work, minding my own business. At five o'clock a.m. on a Saturday morning, my own business was yawning and rubbing my eyes. I had met the girl at the desk next to mine not too long before, our good morning exchange had consisted of agreeing that we were both tired. Now, in the early morning quiet, she bluntly popped a surprising question, "Are you a Christian?"

I turned, studied her a moment, and smiled. I answered simply, "Yes."

After a pause, I asked her, "Are you?"

"No," she said. "No. I believe in God. But...I don't have a particular religion..."

"How did you know?" I couldn't help but ask after another pause.

"Oh, I have known other Christians before and you're just like them. Nice."

Our conversation was interupted by incoming calls...and we turned back to our call center business.

Even more surprising, perhaps, was the commentary of a total stranger I offered a ride home from work one afternoon. I had never met her before the day she caught me passing out of the office lobby and asked if I was driving towards her home. I wasn't, but I hated to think of her waiting indefinitely for a ride, so I offered to just drive her home.

Pulling out of the parking lot at work, I introduced myself and Paul. Two blocks later, she turned to look at me and said adamantly, "You seem really....really....different. Really....conservative."

And a moment later we knew that we had met a non-Christian who didn't mind "discussing" religion with Christians, but didn't want us to shove our beliefs in her face.

The third encounter was in the lunch room. Paul and I were enjoying lunch together when a work acquaintance walked in. We had occasionally chatted with him. He was another of those who had sometimes used the desk next to mine.

We smiled at him as he stood in front of our table for a moment, dead silent. Then he smiled too, and asked, "Can I ask you guys a personal question?"

Paul and I exchanged glances. "Sure," we agreed.

He was silent another moment and then burst out, "What religion are you? There is no one quite like you. You're so different. You're so...conservative."

Maybe my label should read, "Bearer Is Conservative. And Proud Of It."

Is there anything quite as exciting as knowing that being different shows? As knowing that God can let your normal, everyday, workaday self radiate him to an extent that people notice? And, more...that they ASK??

It's worth every bit of pilgriming.

My Hostess Posts

So, I am visiting in Washington state and it has been great (other than getting lost in the city, as usual). I have loved seeing the mountains again, going to a wedding, seeing some of my favorite people again. Including...Janel!! I am at her house now and we thought it would be fun if SHE did a blog post for me....


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So apparently, I got tagged too only I got tagged to tag. Let me explain. My name is Janel and I frequently make comments on this blog (much to Katie's chagrin).

She IS a lover of words (except for “cool” “sweet” “dude” and “far out”). Very easily entertained. Somewhat opinionated (don't mess with her when she gets this way, it is bad for your health, trust me, I know). A really super, stupendous, magnificent, almost perfect (but not quite) friend.

She WANTS to visit all of her friends more often. For every one to email her more often. To be let out of cyber jail.

She WISHES Well, I don't know what she wishes for, but I wish that she would make up her mind about what she wishes for.

She HATES improper English I really, quite strongly do not suggest using slang around her (but she says she only corrects people in her family...or almost in her family).

She LOVES Christ Jesus.

She MISSES me, of course!

She FEARS not a whole lot...but...sometimes spiders.

She HEARS me typing, two different fans, a dog barking, me talking to myself, the tinkling sound she is making as she plays with her watch, the clock.

She WONDERS Why she has a personality that is subject to getting lost frequently, Why she picked a crazy friend like me.

She REGRETS not emailing her friends more (or at least she had better)She HOPES To have many children and grandchildren. (I say 50 to be precise, not that any one is counting....yet.)

She PRAYS for...her crazy friends like me. :)

She is NOT perfect (like, hello, did we really need her to tell us that?)

She SINGS soprano.

She CRIES more easily about something she doesn't care too much about than about something she really cares deeply about. Yeah, me too. What is it about us girls and crying over mostly those things that couldn't matter less? Don't cry over spilled milk, girls (but I'll let you cry over it if it was made into a shake).

She IS NOT ALWAYS A scatterbrain. Really, honest, she's not. I have yet to see it...but I've been told.

She MAKES WITH HER HANDS Long blog posts. (And short ones.) Just not frequently enough.She SHOPS for everyone but herself. If there is one thing that Katie is it is unselfish. (She doesn't think it is true, but it is)

She WRITES any thing and every thing that someone might possibly read.

She CONFUSES her “family and best friends when I say things before I think it through” YUP she does.

She NEEDS to not disappear into cyber space

She SHOULD (Write more letters).

She STARTS Many things (normally they are letters).

She FINISHES Some things (normally they are letters).

In Which I Am Tagged

Sometime between falling off the face of the earth and being banished to an insane asylum, BJ tagged me. I guess until I answer I am forever frozen in cyber jail. Something like that...

Anyway, here I be.

I AM a follower of Jesus. Usually putting off some project or other. A lover of words. Friendly. Irritable when I'm tired. Easily entertained. Somewhat opinionated. An avoider of unnecessary conflict. A daughter, big sister, and friend. Blonde.

I WANT to see people come to know Jesus. A milkshake. Strong muscles without the pain of building them up. An armed guard for my tongue. My clothes that are still in storage.

I WISH I was just like Jesus. That the radio was on because I am a fan of backround noise. That my closet shelf was tidy. That the neighbors were shooting off fireworks since we aren't doing any this year.

I HATE my own sin. Socks that fall down. Improper English. Using slang. When my pride takes a fall. Acne.

I LOVE Jesus. My family, my friends. My country. Ripe strawberries. Milkshakes. Achieving goals. Reading, writing, and playing piano. Clocks and watches, especially the kind that tick. Flowers. Weddings. Birthdays. Sunsets. Clouds. Shadows.

I MISS some of the mountaintop times I've had with Jesus. The mountains in Washington. My friends scattered through the country. Being little enough to ride on Dad's shoulders. Having a baby in the house.

I FEAR failing the Lord somehow. Heights. Deep water.

I HEAR Paul typing. The computer fan. The refrigerator fan. Some firecrackers. Crickets.

I WONDER how long it will be before Jesus comes. Who will run for the Presidential election on the Republican ticket next year. If I will get lost when I visit Seattle this week. How many more times I will move in my life. How much it will cost to give my car a tune up.

I REGRET losing focus often on the Lord. Not exercising more. Eating too much sugar.

I HOPE I will live to be a mature and wise old lady. I have many children and grandchildren. I learn to braid rugs and weave baskets. I learn to keep my room tidy. I get to travel to another country.

I PRAY for forgiveness, for direction, for friends and family. Because I am commanded to. Because I love to talk to the Lord. When I'm upset. When I'm not upset. Less than I should.

I AM NOT perfect. A tomboy. Of a scientific nature. Usually hard to please. Without strong convictions.

I SING in praise to the Lord. When I'm happy. A lot. Sometimes dramatically. Making up the words as I go along.

I CRY sometimes when I know I've sinned. When I'm in pain. When I'm frustrated and upset. More easily about something I don't care too much about than about something I really care deeply about.

I AM NOT ALWAYS unselfish. Considerate. Smiling. A scatterbrain.

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS music. An untidy room. Long blog posts. (And short ones.) Long letters (and short ones). Dinner.

I SHOP for everyone in the family. Sales and coupons! Quickly. With as little money as possible.

I WRITE blog posts, letters, e-mails. All day for my job. A journal. Notes to myself if I really want to remember something.

I CONFUSE people who think that I am serious all the time. People who think I am a flibberty-gibbet all the time. My family and best friends when I say things before I think it through.

I NEED to memorize more Scripture. To pack for a trip to Washington. To eat regularly. New socks soon. New shoes soon.

I SHOULD stop second guessing my own decisions so easily. Go to bed soon. Finish this tag. Catch up on my journalling.

I START many projects. Reading a book. Early most mornings.

I FINISH some projects. Some books. Late some nights.

I TAG Bethany, Ashes and whoever else will do it. (Anna, I don't think I saw yours???!)