What if God rested?

I have been pondering the idea of rest. Having a toddler that doesn't always take a nap got me to thinking about rest and the need for it. During the summer, I can get into a pattern of taking a nap. This is sometimes a habit hard to break as August rolls around. I got to thinking the other day during "quiet time" about how different scripture would be if God took naps too. God did rest. After the task of creating the whole universe, he rested. I am sure I would have made the same decision. But God didn't take a nap, he just rested from creating new things.
It has been said to me many times that God is omnipotent and ever present. He goes before us and walks behind us in all circumstances...and that is for the whole world of believers. Quite exhausting, if I do say so myself... But not for our God.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. (Isaiah 40:28).

My human mind starting thinking...what if God rested? had narcolepsy...how would that impact my world, the world of my friends, the people in Biblical times?

How about if God got tired and needed to rest during the parting of the Red sea? Exodus 13:17 to 15:21 What would have happened to Moses and his people...would they have made it to the promise land, or would they have faced the same fate as Pharaoh's army?

What about David? Would he have defeated Goliath with the slingshot if God was relaxing at the spa?

Would Daniel have become lion food? What about the fate of Jonah, Lazarus or any other miracles performed by Jesus. It seems to me the whole Bible would have a different storyline, if our God rested!

The truth is...O Lord, you have searched me and you know me, You know when I sit and when I riseYou discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways (Ps. 139:1-2a & 3).
You perceive my thoughts from afar (Ps. 139:2b).

Even when we do not "feel" his presence (because of sin, suffering, dejection, depression, grief and so on) He is still there. Sometimes, in some circumstances, God feels invisible. He feels like he might be out of touch, or at rest, but Our God doesn't need rest. He is still with us. What a comforting thought.

Productivity!

I love it when I accomplish something. I am usually exhausted at the end of the day to accomplish much. But, the last few days I have been working on cleaning up the yard and house, planting flowers and such. It has been HOT...and I didn't get as much accomplished, yesterday. Today however, I accomplished all of this.
1. Went to Hobby Lobby to purchase supplies for making barrettes. Made a few pairs. Thinking about selling them on Esty.
2. Returned some "too big" shirts and picked up a few groceries.
3. Had lunch with mom and Evy.
4. Went to the Library. Found some awesome books for my students for next year.
5. Dinner with the inlaws.
6. Visited the Hope Harvest and purchased some cheese and napa cabbage...thinking of a great recipe to create.
7. Was inspired by the Faith Garden and dug and planted by a 4x6 garden plot: corn, squash, zucchini, watermelon, okra, tomato, purple and green beans.
8. Planted the patio flowers, watered the garden with a bucket (since our hoses broke) and vacuumed up the mess of dirt we strung in...
That is pretty much it...but really the garden should have taken a few days, but it is late anyway. My hands are hurting and will develop blisters overnight. Evy and I were going to go for a walk, but she fell asleep about 7 in the car and didn't wake up until a little while ago. I am sure that tomorrow will be an early day for her. We will probably go swimming at the Y and I will catch a workout.

74 day vacation!

Today is my first offical day with no school work to do~ and there are 73 more to go. I was able to get everything major accomplished and checked out yesterday by 4:15~ an amazing feet, thankyouverymuch! We moved the classroom and then had to put it all into working order due to the summer school that will be using it in June. I am asking AM to send me the pictures she took...I should have really documented that progress. There are little projects that need to be accomplished and I plan on painting too this summer. But today...I am taking a well deserved break!

Our Last Ditch Effort...18 months later.

Five years ago, I had surgery to remove lesions and stage 2 endometrosis. It covered the majority of my female parts and was present on the bowel, bladder and even the liver. I underwent 6 months of treatment to "kill" it, but...after a visit with Dr. B, I found out, he thinks the endometrosis is returning. This 6 month treatment is a monthly shot which depletes the body of hormones, throwing you into full blown menopause. I think that it was one of the worst experiences with the best results, because we were able to conceive during the first month after the treatment was over. My husband will tell you that I wasn't too pleasant to live with during this phase of our infertility journey. I remember the hot flashes and night sweats...but the most significant memory I have is the increase of the Zoloft each month.

It has been 18 months since we lost our precious gift, Autumn. It doesn't seem possible that we are dealing with this infertility again. After Monday's exam, I found out my ovaries are too big and covered in cysts (much worse than before)...so we will try one last ditch effort to get pregnant before resorting to re-doing the treatment. We will take birth control pills for a month to shrink the ovaries and then will do the shot treatment and try to have another child. If it doesn't work...then we will start the monthly shots to induce menopause. Oh....can't you hear the joy in my words!

Evy got a chance to meet Dr. B and Mary Cathrine on Monday. Her behavior was less than appealing for me, but I guess not too bad for a 3 year old. They both enjoyed getting to remember the process and talk to her. Dr. B even even showed a little affection to her before we left.

This morning Evy woke up and told me that she didn't feel good. Then the following conversation took place as she hopped into the shower with me.

Evy: I have a baby in my tummy for you!
Me: Really, how did it get into your tummy?
Evy: She just crawled over and hopped in...it is a sister. You have the brother in your tummy.
Me: When are you going to have this baby?
Evy: On Saturday. And I have banana food up in the garage for her.
Me" Really...
Me: You don't really have a baby in your tummy.**
Evy: Yes I do, it is for you. Because I want a sister.
**This continued most of the morning...until she got so made she threw a stuffed dog at me.

I guess I am not the only one wanting a baby!

Recital Weekend!

Costumes $65

Tickets $38

Pictures $90

Seeing my daughter perform in "the big show!"....PRICELESS!

This weekend was the big dance recital and then we finished up with gymnastics tonight. So it is offically summer for Evy. On Saturday night, Evy's group was the first act after the opening...dancing to "Lollipop." We couldn't video tape during the recital, but Michael got some video during dress rehearsal. She missed dress rehearsal for gymnastics due to a quick trip to the RE Tulsa, but was the first one to perform through the obstacle course performance they had set up. She did great and you would have never known she missed. She is so very proud of her award she received as a first year student. In the end, we really racked up the money for her to be on the stage, but if it is something she likes...and is good at, money doesn't really matter.

stressful weeks+ crazy weather = sick

This is not the week for me to be sick. It was one of the busiest weeks of meetings at school- I think the count for special ed meetings is now up to 55 for the year--and I serve less than 20 kids. I also averaged out my salary stipend for working with special needs kids...a "little" bonus for all the extra work...that equals an extra $1.40 an hour. I am not so sure it has been worth it for every kid this year...some just cost a little more than $1.40 extra an hour. But I keep turning back to the my personal creed " every kid, every day, every chance"! And I can definately make it 3 more!

I know it is an old wives tale that the weather makes you sick, but for some reason I have some sort of cold. I am sure it is more related to all the stress and the germs at school, but nonetheless I am sick. On Tuesday, I thought I had the swine flu. In some regards I wish we were going camping with our small group pals, but feeling like this would make the first time campers experience a little less pleasurable I am sure. For the last few nights, I have just camped in my bed watching TV and resting... I am definitely feeling much better than I was on Tuesday--a great improvement. Evy and Michael have pitched in--he even grilled dinner one night. Such a great man!

This weekend is Evy's first dance recital. We will be sharing the event with 8 of our family members. It makes for a busy weekend, after being lazy and sick...tonight I have to clean the house after dress rehearsal. Tomorrow everyone will arrive and we will eat and be merry. I am looking forward the cousins playing together and watching her on stage. She will probably be a ham as usual.

Monday....the RE appointment and a shoulder MRI are in store...and no school (for me) since I will be at the doctors office or traveling most of the day...I am pretty excited!

The good, the bad, the ugly....

Today I survived a very ugly test...one in which they stuck me with a needle numerous times and shocked me with electrical currents. I have about 10 needle marks up my arm that will probably be bruised tomorrow.

The good news is...there is nothing neurologically wrong with me. My test came back absolutely normal.

The bad new is...I am still in pain (unexplainable) pain. And now I am back at square 1...I will go back to the orthopedic doctor and explore other avenues like tendon issues, bursitis, or rotator cuff issues. The neurologist ordered and MRI of the shoulder, which I will do on Monday.

Last year, I told the doctors I thought something was wrong with my rotator cuff, they talked to me and did an x-ray and determined that it was just fine...I am not sure how the test will turn out, but I am sure of one thing, the originally injury is now probably healed in an inappropriate way. Which might require surgery. I have lots of special certificates and degrees on the wall...none of them medical. In one way, I hope I am right...in another I hope I am wrong.

I would say that my faith has been tested last week. uh...just a little. It seemed everything I prayed the exact opposite happened. I felt that I should stop praying altogether for fear someone might get hurt. It was what Evy has referred to as "a horrible day" this week. The answering service moved with quite a few problems...phone company issues, equipment problems...all and all--I was pretty sure our large investment was flushed away and sorry we had done it. At one point, bankrupcy was looking like a pretty good answer. But...God PROVIDES...and I learned a little bit MORE about patience. God sustained us through some pretty intense emotional pressure this week.

we

didn't

fail

we

perservered!

There are times that I felt so inadaquate and like my prayers were just being reflected off the ceiling...Michael and I spent some time praying together before work one morning, not something we do often. Although, I wish we did. I physically had to "cast my cares/burdens" to him...and oh how hard it is not to take them back. With the issues we were facing and God felt so far away, it seemed pretty hopeless for a while and then all the sudden...the grey clouds parted and some sun started peeking through. It isn't all fixed but I will tell you... the aniexousness is lifting.

Dear Jesus, Lord of Lords, Great Physician. Abba Father...

Please be near to my Mike laying in that hospital bed tonight. Bring complete healing and restoration to his tired and sick body. Take away the infection in his blood and give him strength. Lord, I can't imagine that his work here is done! Selfishly, I want him to see his grand daughter grow up, to meet her future spouse and maybe her children...don't take that away from her. Your way is perfect, but I know you hear our prayers and you know our hearts and mine is on my knees (well, technically not) begging you, pleading like Hannah...restore him! We aren't ready to let go!

Also...please allow the move tomorrow to go smoothly. I am so not sure what lessons we are to learn by the stresses you allow us to feel during this time. I know life shouldn't feel perfect, but a few easy days would be nice. Please allow the phone line transition to be seamless, for clients to not be effected, for the movers, the phone installers and the "team" not to face any snags. Give my sweet husband peace...give him patience, give him rest and give him YOUR presence. I know that you can be so near and sometimes feel so far away when the stress of life is pushing against our world. Lord, you be the wall...you be the barrier, be real in every way tomorrow...TAKE all the GLORY!

Give me strength and patience as we face the day...and let me get my work complete.

~Amen

I love hotels.

Maybe because the mirror and toilet are spotless and I didn't put any effort into it.

Maybe because their furniture (and in today's case TV) is cooler than mine at home.

I especially love when the room comes with a fridge so you can store your leftovers so you don't have to throw them out, just because you are out of town.

I like that the beds are made...the floor is clean...and the towels match.

Generally, I guess I live in a very narcissistic world because I rarely consider the lives that have "lived" in the hotel room before me. The people who breathed (or whatever else) in the bed I just slept on. If you overthink it...I would probably change my title statement.

Stepping out of the Hampton shower this morning. Oh...showers are the only things that I don't love about hotels. I am a little partial to my Water-Pik shower head and nothing quite compares. I even find the "noises" intriguing...but the showers, they could stand for improvement... ah I digress.

Stepping out of the Hampton shower this morning, I considered who might have been here last night. And whether or not the housekeeping crew did a mighty fine job in disinfecting the room given the recent swine flu issues. Given that our state hasn't offically announced any H1N1 virus cases, I am not too worried, but the thought did cross my mind. Given the recent Yahoo! featured article, "Confessions of a Hotel Housekeeper." maybe I should be a bit more concerned. Even so... I still love hotels.

Favorite moments.

This week has been incredible hard. I decided that telling you all the crazy- and I am talking C-R-A-Z-Y stuff that has happened this week is too much so....I will leave you with some of my favorite moments from this week.



Friday. 3:05p.m. The bell rings.
Also...A Celebrity Look-a-like went to work with my man today. It sure was hard work being Hannah...she said!


Thursday. Spider Sushi Rolls Yummy and Dancing Evy!



Wednesday. Bride Wars

Tuesday. Baby Stellan goes home after heart sugery and 5 1/2 weeks in hospital

Monday. Grant application completed!

Sunday. After church my Dad made breakfast AND we took a nap!

Saturday. Playing at park with Evy and Grandma. Lord kept us safe from tornados!