Well I did start

I started working on my What I believe essay last week. I wrote it down in a note book then became busy with life. You know dealing with the children, the spouse, the job, church, and friends.


My children had pretty much hit the wall on me being gone from them at nights and it showed in every aspect of their lives. I’m back on days and they seem to be over joyed, they miss the dad but are gad to have mom home. Except today was my first day back on days and I get up at 4:20 am so when I decided to take a nap I TOOK A NAP! A friend came over to train me on the slides at church, I’ll be doing them some so I need to know how. That took hours to set up and work on. My husband wanted to look at desks and check out the log cabin show with friends then back here for brick oven pizza. Church brought a surprise no one showed up to run the slides so I ended up with them it may seem easy but you have to lead the singers and allow the minister his moment. The cool part is that they are very aware that we try our best and they appreciate what we do. I did nail the sermon I knew exactly when to go to the next slide. Sure it helps that he sets it up well and let me know what to listen for. Still I had to stay awake. I will need to remember not to look at the line up while they are singing.


Now for what I believe


I believe that my daughter has taken the note book with what I’m sure was a brilliant essay so I believe that until I find it or rewrite it I won’t be put on this blog. Until then I believe that God sends Love to us.

Happy Earth Day!

Prayers for

Pinakidion

His little girl came into this world this week and faces a fight. Please pray for her and her parents.

We remember

Photo taken by my son

I just want this sand out of my shoe.

Ever have one of those days when running away seems like a great idea?
I feel like one of those whinny folks waiting for Moses and God to tell me where to go and what to do. Well lets just build and idol and start the party!


I have no reason to sit in a tub of self pity but here I am. I do have a list of reasons. We always have those don’t we!


Here’s some of them:
I need to have several thousands of dollars worth of work done on my home
I have a movie that won’t copy to disk for my son to turn in.
My daughter has decided that all the world is her stage so why not put on a show at school.
My son is thirteen
People where I work are sometimes rude
Women have moments in life that make us crazy so we shove chocolate in our faces.
I have several others but these are the ones I shared


On a bright note I spoke with a wonderful Christian lady today about unity. She shared a sweet little joke. I talked to her about the 24/7 prayer and how great it is. It still gives me goose bumps talking about it. She and I almost cried as we talked of Jesus and God.
My co-worker did a major amount of the side work that I normally do.
I got a hug from one of my favorite customers
My husband let me vent.
My husband purchased jewelry for me and Miss Littles to support a mission.


So I didn’t open the bottle and I haven’t melted any gold
I did shove chocolate in my face and I grumbled a bit.

I guess I won’t run away today.

Prayers for those who are afraid and those who are in mourning

Picture it:

April 2007, it’s Saturday and I’m at work. I have just been told that I can leave early if I want. I want! I had to be in at 6:00 am that means that my alarm went off at 4:20am. I have to look good for those early morning home improvement shoppers. I know you care about the extra effort I give to be pretty when your looking for power tools or purchasing enough insecticide to poison every bug this side of the Mississippi. I know that what is waiting for me is something that others only dream of. It’s so amazing that I still can’t believe it was here in my home a dream come true .I told everyone I could about how great my evening was going to be. I took the early out and headed home.

I arrived excited to see things being brought into the house. Ok so her car was parked a bit over and that made it a bit difficult to pull in to the garage but who cares this night was to be one of the best nights ever. I helped them in with the packages and gave a quick tour of my kitchen then realized my children were home. Why are you home? I asked. Plans were changed because of the cold weather but they assured me that they were leaving soon. My son wanted us to see the final results of his history movie so we delighted in the bad acting and the lame jokes. I then changed cloths and started to think about what I wanted to do first. I was relieved to see my wonderful children go with their aunt for the rest of the evening. I stared to watch a movie while a flourish of pots and pans and ingredients began to drowned out the sound of my movie. Who cares I am being cooked for. As I settled in thinking movie, then bath, then a nap until it’s ready I was asked to dash off to the store for baking powder that is once they decided that it was powder not soda that they needed. No big deal a quick in and out then back to the movie that was changed to music while I was gone. New plan play with new ring tones on my phone I could add a song just incase you call hmmmm Amarillo By Morning is on this thing but it’s the wrong version I’m a Chris LeDoux fan so never mind that one. I settle down on the sofa and think about taking that bath. I guess after I go to the store for bread because they’ve eaten half the loaf while cooking plus the olive bread isn’t rising. I arrive at the bakery to find that they have no olive bread so I purchase a baguet and cheese bread. I also grabbed an ice tea so as not to drink too much diet soda, something I need to give up.

Now that bath tub is calling to me. . . no that’s my husband’s ring tone. We forgot the ham and it must come from the natural foods market on 91st . I battle the traffic and head that way. Relax a good meal waits. I crank up the radio and talk to the gas gauge. I’m on red and still have several blocks to go.

I can’t find this place on the corner so I call. On the corner. On the corner. You can repeat it several times and still not make it so. Catty corner from. . . .south east . . .it closes soon . .It’s right there on the corner. . . . .Hurry . . . . I drilled them as to what things are around it and they were clueless. The strip mall . . . .Why on this earth do we have so darn many strip malls? Finally I give up on them and pull in to survey the land. There it is NOT on the corner. I rush in to find that the only ham they have is shaved and that won’t do. I’m asked to buy a pound of Sunday Bacon. I then look around, I have earned a treat, something that says thanks for giving up your bath to rush around for them. I purchase some energy tea. I’ll try it tomorrow. I now am in need of gas. I stopped to fill up then call them to be sure that they are set much to my relief they were. Ihave squeezed my car in and out of the garage five times. Thank goodness no one needs new paint.

I had to remind them to check the cake, it was a bit over cooked. I had to help grill the steaks and shrimp. Somewhere in the mix I folded laundry. I also did the dishes. Lots of dishes.

Watching a movie with friends -great fun.
Listening to your husband and a friend cook -funny
Cooking with friends- wonderful

A meal fit for a queen- who cares- it's about the love
Running all over town- a pain
Spending time on the sofa taking to a dear friend about religion and aging parents while your spouses look up tattoos on line.
Priceless.

I love my kitchen because of nights like that. I love my friends because he can sit with me and tell me about his mom and I can talk about my dad. Because I can talk about the way I believe and he can give me his opinion, a valued one. . . as our spouses think of ways to poke ink into their skin.

What do you believe?

My brother sent me this http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138
His minister challenged them to write an essay in 500 words or less. He did a great job and if he’s reading this he could give permission to copy some of his essay so that you could read it.

My challenge is that you write what you believe in as many words that you need. I’ll be working on mine this week.

He is with us

As I sat quietly in the prayer room praying for those who were in need and praising those who had praises I realized that I spend such little time just being still. Don’t mean physically but spiritually. I tend to let my mind wander into what I did that day or what others said and what my children need foe the next day and so on. But the three hours I spent at church was about prayer so I prayed and talked. I also asked God to speak to me with scripture He did as He always does.

I spent some time with my eyes closed and listened. This is what I saw.

I stood twirling around in the desert wondering where I was going to go
I looked to the heavens for the things I’d need to keep me alive
I then looked about as if they should appear
Distracted by my own footprints I began to make silly designs in the sand with my feet
Not satisfied by that bit of art I sat and began to draw with my hands.
I soon became hot and thirsty
I was sure to die if I didn’t get the food needed to sustain my life
WALK
What?
Walk on
So I walked on
I followed the sound of water bubbling up from a spring
When I reached the water I immersed myself in it
I came out clean and ready for the next part of the journey
What now I thought as I tossed a rock into the water
I watched the ripples
I peered into the pool at my reflection
I became focused on my face and how I looked
Night feel and I soon felt alone by morning I was sure that I would die out there by myself
WALK
What?
Walk on
I fooled the smell of fresh baked bread, surely the smell of heaven on earth
I found bread sitting on a table just for me to devour
I ate as much as my body could hold for the moment
Walk on

I have yet to find my way out of the sand but the Lord provides what I need
He forgives my playfulness
He knows Milly walks off the path and provides cleansing water
He knows Milly needs His words to keep her focused
HE knows Milly

Thank You

Jesus

A time to pray

As the new year was ushered in with celebration around the world, the Tulsa Year of Prayer kicked off -and now it's my churches time.


Several churches have joined the 24/7 of prayer. This is an amazing thing to be able to be a part of God’s plan for us and it going on all over the world right now. I will be clocking out of work this week and driving to my church for two hours of prayer. My husband and I plan to take our children with us to spend an hour of prayer time with them.

If you have a need for prayer or praise please feel free add it here. I promise to take them with me. You don't have to put your name on the prayers if you don't want to. Those who have come here looking for different things are welcome to ask for prayers.


I'll pray for Bob, Bob’s wife, Bob’s son.

Ms. C, who could be facing a return breast cancer and is very frightened

Praise for the lady who struck up a conversation with me today while we waited. You were a reminder to take our faces out of a magazine or cell phone and talk to people. You were so wonderful in witnessing to me about your healing and to tell me your story. To raise five boys with two divorces must have been a hardship. I’m so glad that God has led you to where you are now. I can still smell your perfume from our hug. You are blessed and you are a blessing. I will pray that God continues to show you how very blessed you are. Thank you for a reminder to keep telling it!

Ed

Those going and those who are in the mission field

Think'n and talk'n

Last night I was talking to a coworker about another coworker who is said to be "homophobic". I should say that the coworker I was talking to is gay. I said that I thought he was a Christian and that some are very open about how they feel about that subject. We had a nice discussion. I’m rather open on my feelings on the subject. It’s not for me to judge.

That discussion got me thinking about the saying "Love the sinner hate the sin" That would upset me to no end if someone walked up to me and said that. Look this isn’t about being an alcoholic or a drug addict, this is about being someone who loves someone of the same sex. To walk up and say that your life of being happy is a big sin is harsh.

I also had a discussion as to why same sex marriage should be legal. Here’s the brief story two women I work with were married one decided to leave. She was able to walk out of the relationship rather easily. The lady I was talking to felt that had they needed to do more then write a note to the minister letting her know that they were splitting up that they may have worked it out.

That also brings something else to light is it at time too easy to divorce? Or should it be easy to save the family from a difficult time. My cousin is now in process of divorce. He promised to make it easy in order to spare everyone hardship she made it hard so now it’s hard and the children are in the mess.

These issues are rather difficult for Christians to think about but they are there at least where I work.

I do feel lucky now!

Sunday and Monday night at work were unnerving the majority of the people just couldn't seen to figure out how do anything without my help. I also discovered that I may be allergic to the thing they make us wear. I look nice all broken out in spots. My dog caught a baby bunny. Don’t ask but I took care of it, I hope there is a bunny heaven.

It was cool to get a big old bear hug and several kisses on the top of my head from a nice guy who took the time to enjoy a moment with me. I was given that four leaf clover the next night by a lady who spent some time talking with me before she shopped. Bright spots in my nights. Tonight I worked in a different place after the flipping of the coin to decide who went where, I think we both won. It was slower due to the rain so we were able to talk and enjoy folks a bit more.

I have Wednesday off so I’m going to work rather hard at gathering my family up for dinner despite my husband working at church after he gets off for his real job.
Nope I don’t believe in luck especially if it comes from a clover. That is unless I’m a starving little bunny. Sorry. :-{

I know that at times God must think me a spoiled child as I dwell in my self pity with my gee whiz how stupid is. . . . .and my can you believe they asked me for that?. . . . I sometimes yell at people in traffic. . . and so on and on and on. Meanwhile folks are just trying to get through the day, get home, get out of the mess that they are in.

People are suffering all around this spoiled girl who is thankful for God's forgiveness, the bear hugs, and clover.

spoken from one who knows

I think the best thing you can give your children is wings,and to teach them to stand by themselves in a stiff wind.

Elizabeth Edwards, after receiving the diagnosis of cancer returning, and being incurable.

Awarded By Bob

Kansas Bob has given me and many others more deserving then Milly this award.

Familyhood Church, The Milly Times and The Sword's Still Out (along with many other blogs) have caused me to rethink community. I listed these as representatives of bloggers that genuinely care for me and pray for me when I hurt. These bloggers are the reasons that I come back to blogworld every day. -Kansas Bob

Missy, Danny & Byevad, Pearlie, Patchouli, & Japhy

Missy,

You give a learning Christian wife and mom’s prospective that I can really relate to. Keep showing us Missy.


Danny & byevad,
You make us think and laugh. You give us a place to be silly. We need that.


Pearlie,
You are such a special lady. I love the fact that you are so open to how you feel by showing us the beauty in the world with words and pictures.


Patchouli,
Your honesty of you life touches us you love for your family and those in need shows how God can use you.


Japhy,
My husband came from a Catholic upbringing he felt that they didn’t teach him to explore who God really is. You have shown me that it’s up to us to get to know God no matter the upbringing.


To all of you THANK YOU this is a community of those who seem to care for one another that’s a real blessing in this blog city, something I never even thought I’d have.
God Bless,
Milly

So, the responsibility of these award recipients is to award others with "The Thinking Blogger Award". Be sure that when you award them, you link back to the and include the icon displayed above.


Cool award

Spring is here

Winter snow slows us down. It gives a blanket of white reminding me of sitting by the fire the quietness of the world. Time for peace.

Spring brings us hope and a new beginning Jesus seems to whisper in colors that life is anew.

My uncle was what some considered a fanatic . . .

. . . . a religious fanatic. I thought he was one of the most interesting men I had ever met. He worked the mines in Oklahoma as a young man. He once told me, when I was bold enough to ask, that the loss of his arm was a blessing because many lost their lives in those shafts. His face had deep lines, character that seemed to make him even more interesting to me. He seemed interested in everything including me. His eyes lit up when he’d ask me questions as if each answer were to be a wonderful surprise.

He wasn’t a man of diplomas and didn’t get past grade school from what I hear, but he was smart and when ever he had the chance he learned. He spent his time at the colleges reading and listening, I’m sure the he could have easily made it through college. He learned how to make their money work for them and did very well. My Aunt was an educated school teacher. She never seemed to mind that her husband wasn’t holding a degree she saw the man not the paper. He delighted in telling us why my aunt fell in love with him. "Because he made me laugh." They met when he was preaching. How could she not be drawn to him with that kind voice and his interesting look. You could see the love in their eyes for each other when they talked about how the fell in love.

He had the most incredable smile, a smile that let you know that he knew God. I loved to look at him he seemed to draw me into conversation. I wish he were here today to talk to me about how I believe and what he thinks and to see his face when my children talk of God. I know that he would be proud of me for bringing them to our Lord. Something his own son walked away from.
My uncle left this earth after teaching Bible class and enjoying church. He came home sat on the couch while his bride began to make lunch. He called her in and asked her to pray for him because he was going to Heaven and then he did.

A man who came from such a hard life and humble beginnings. . .a man who loved the Lord with everything. . . .a man who showed love for the world. . .is now with God.

I wonder if he’s finished asking questions after all these years?

Have you ever eaten at a restaurant that was just this good?

Tonight my sister took me and Miss Littles out for dinner at an Asian restaurant near my home. The food was so good that as I was sitting here reading I began to think about how stuffed I am and what I will order next time.

WHAT I WILL ORDER NEXT TIME!!!!!!!

Yikes I’m still full from this meal and I’m thinking about what I want for my next meal. It’s just that good. . . . . and so very close.

Next time Dan Dan Noodles.
Yummy!!!

Home sweet blog

Have you ever been away from home for a while? The others have stayed behind and continued to move on while you were our doing what you did while you were gone?

I moved away from home under odd circumstances-The men in my life were making me crazy! This one wanted freedom while he traveled the world to perform with Up With People and that one wasn’t sure if he should take his ex-wife back. I packed up and left. This isn’t a story for today so I’ll stop at that.

Today’s is about coming home. It always looks a bit of the same yet different. Life was moving on. It does that silly thing it just keeps going. When I went home to stay after moving for my own place in between moving in with my sister I stayed at what now was just a place I use to live. I hated it, I hadn’t come home a lot, not because it was far but because I had work and a life of my own, and now everything was a bit off. I was in mourning for the loss of friends and the loss of what I had known for those years of being on my own. I have to admit that I make hasty decisions at times like moving out to avoid the boys and in moving in with my sister and some others that are for other stories.

My parents were careful about how they spoke and what they did, they tried not to trigger me into a depression, they’ve seen it and didn’t want to see it again. It took me some time to settle into the new apartment. Actually I didn’t settle until we moved into our second apartment that I began to feel at home. I found friends and relaxed into the notion that I was going to live in Tulsa for a good long time. I had returned home, it had made many changes since grade school but it was home. I now am faced with a new city, ok not now a year ago, to discover. I have yet to embrace it, for one I can see the old city from here. I’m working on it one fast food and city office at a time.

I met a friend for lunch the other afternoon she and I chatted about kids and the old school that we were PTA members of. It was Lucy and Ethel at times with us. I miss our time together. It was great that we could meet and chat but it’s not the same time moves on with or without me.

Yep things have changed in the short time that I was gone from here, thanks for missing me.

I'M BACK!

I don't know if this thing is going to freak out again. The guys couldn't get it to at the shop.


I'll be doing some typing soon.