Monday, June 30, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - Grand Finale


Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—He could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:1-3(The Message)




Saturday, June 28, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 28

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12

Me And My Girl Problems Hysterversary Edition

*TMI WARNING - this post will contain personal details that you may not want to know*

Today marks the third anniversary of my admission to Christus Schumpert Cancer Treatment Center to have a giant mass, along with my uterus and cervix, removed. At this point, we didn't know if the mass was benign or malignant. It occurred to me that you 3 people who are following this story have no idea whether I lived or died. I suppose today is an appropriate day to tell you what happened. They took me to a surgery holding area and gave me some sort of sedative (as I remember it). After I was unconscious they did the surgery prep. How cool is that right? I was blissfully unaware that people were shaving my nether-regions, installing a catheter into my bladder, rubbing me with cold brown anti-septic, etc. etc.
The next thing I remember, I was in a room in a lot of pain and rapidly pushing a button with my thumb. Someone was speaking to me, and I think she was saying, "It won't work now - you've had all you can have for the hour..." I was in the recovery room, waking up from anaesthesia. Trying to get pain relief. Because apparently when you have your abdomen cut open from your belly button to your C-Section scar, it is rather painful. At some point, I guess they decided I was lucid enough to be taken to my room which I would be staying in for the next 5 days. My husband and Cousin Amber were there waiting for me. I tend to think of this as the room of doom. Somewhere in the walls of my room, there was an entire construction crew; hammering, sawing, drilling and stomping. I kid you not, the noise was so loud that we couldn't even carry on a conversation. As a team we talked to several nurses and officials of the hospital in order to get me moved. I mean, honestly - WHO in their right minds puts a person recovering from major surgery into a room where they can't possibly rest?? Some hours later they moved me to a much quieter area of the hospital. The next morning when my doctor came in to check on me, he entered the room yelling, "Damn lady! I have been looking all over for you!" I said, "Did you just CURSE?" He went on to explain to me that yes he did curse, he went to my room to find me and I wasn't there. Apparently he had an adventure finding me as well. So anyway, I finally got the chance to ask him about my tumor. "Did you get pictures of it??" He said, "No, the camera in the surgery suite wasn't working." Can you hear my audible sigh of disappointment? Doesn't EVERYONE want to see their tumor?? I asked him to tell me about it then and he likened it to a small watermelon. I said, "No WONDER I was having trouble peeing! That thing was smashing everything!" He also told me that it would be sent off for biopsy, but he was certain that it was benign. If you can call smashing my bladder flat 'benign'. He said he would be back to check on me later.
I was really having issues with my catheter. It hurt all.the.time. They made a couple of different attempts to adjust it to no avail, so I finally just begged them to take it out and let me work out getting to the bathroom(although it was early for this step yet). And what I mean by me working out getting to the bathroom, I really mean my husband helping me in every step - because he is that kind of guy. I want to tell you all the funny and gross and embarrassing things that happened in those days that I spent in the hospital - but I have completely lost interest in telling this story. And I think I know why....
Flash forward to my current girl problems. We have been unable to determine why I am having pain at the tip of my urethra. I think, that possibly - when they installed the catheter, they may have injured my urethra. There would have been no way for me to tell them that they were hurting me because I was unaware at the time, and I spent the next months on pretty intense pain medication. Then my husband left for a year tour in Korea.
So much time had passed, I completely forgot about the whole thing. Until, that is, I started recounting the story of my Total Abdominal Hysterectomy.(which by the way ~ does not include the ovaries. Why they call it 'total' I have no idea. The little trouble-makers are still there maintaining hormonal chaos in my system)
From the time that my husband returned from Korea to the time that he deployed to Iraq (1 year) I went to doctor after doctor and test after test trying to determine what was going on and how to fix it. I am now pretty convinced that my urethra was injured by that catheter ~ and had I not been recounting the hysterectomy story - I don't know if I ever would have made the connection. We had been at a stand-still until now, my doctor and I having agreed that we would wait and see if the condition would heal on its own while my husband was gone. It has not. I go see my doctor in July and I get to tell her what I have remembered. I also get to have a well-woman exam. I may have said this before, but I will say it again, "That is just wrong! I have no uterus and no cervix. Leave me alone for pete's sake!" Apparently no womb is not a get-out-of-pap-free card. Wrong. Just wrong.

*The tumor was benign*

Friday, June 27, 2008

Off Or On?

Should I store the storage containers with the lids off



or should I store them with the lids on

Something to consider: I have more containers. These are just the ones that have been cleaned so they could be placed back in the cabinet.

AVADIJ-E4 - What Day Is It Now?

Broken glass seems to be becoming a theme in my life. Wonder what it all means....
Pity really, this is from the set I was going to keep.


and now on to....

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.

Psalm 63:3



Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 24

A fierce storm blew through our area today. It came up quickly, put down a lot of rain and hail and brought mighty winds. Sadly, we weren't prepared for this storm and the things located in our outside work area took somewhat of a beating. Here I am, living and breathing ~ and so I praise the Lord! A view of the destruction.......















Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150:6


Monday, June 23, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 23



I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth.

Job 19:25









Go to the window you look out the most and clean it(the inside AND the outside)! You'll be surprised at how it changes your environment. If that inspires you - do all the windows in the room!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

THAT'S Why!

I was visiting one of my favorite blogs today: Chatting at the sky ~ discovering the holy moments in the midst of the mundane. She posted about why she takes pictures and it was so eloquently said and exactly what I have been trying to understand about myself and put into words as well. You can read that post here - and look at the lovely pictures she takes and her vibrant, funny and well-spoken way of looking at the world. The only thing that I would add, is that I want others to look at my pictures and experience the same beauty, wonder, interest and emotion that I experienced when capturing that moment.

AVADIJ-E4 - June 22




But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
1 Corinthians 14:40





Friends, this may possibly be my favorite part of our new (in progress) kitchen....

The message center!






Saturday, June 21, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 21


How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of His years is past finding out.


Job 36:26

Friday, June 20, 2008

Get Your Music Videos

Here is a short instructional post about how to get videos into your posts....by special request from the Lily of the Valley.

There are a couple of ways that I know of to get videos posted into your blog. In my opinion, the easiest is to go to http://www.youtube.com/ or http://www.godtube.com/ and find the video that you want.

Once you have found the video that you want, when you click on it - it will begin playing, and also bring up its 'page'. To the right of the video, there is a box that has info about the video and a long, slim box that has the title 'embed' just above it.

If you right click inside this box, then click 'select all' - it will highlight the entire code in the box. Then right click inside the box again and choose 'copy'. You can also customize how you want to embed the video, such as - what color you want the frame to be, if you want to include related videos - etc. (Do this before you highlight and select the code). Once you have clicked 'copy' - you are ready to place the video into your blog.

You create a new post - and use the 'edit html' tab. Once you have that tab chosen, right click in your post box and choose 'paste'. VOILA. You just put a video into your post!!

You can also post your own videos to YouTube - and use the same steps to embed them into your post.

The other way that I know of to get videos you have made your posts is:
When you are creating a new post, use the little teeny button that looks like a piece of film - located between the button that looks like a picture and the button that looks like an eraser. (In the compose tab). You click the video button, and it will bring up a box that will ask you to choose a file to upload. Click the browse button and locate on your computer which video you would like to upload. Fill in the other boxes and VOILA. It uploads. This feature is touchier. If your video is too big - it may not load. But it WILL take forever to tell you that.

Hope this helps!

AVADIJ-E4 - June 20

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31
Brought to you in song by the Chicas of Faith Worship Team...



Thursday, June 19, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 19


The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Psalm 145:8
I am so thankful to be a recipient of God's grace, compassion and love!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 18

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
Psalm 28:7


Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Amish Paradise

Will Faith stay in Amish country? Or will the lure of yodeling and making the Englishers laugh draw her away from her home once more?? Is it October yet?

A Verse A Day - I Have Repented





Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Revelation 4:8



Monday, June 16, 2008

What Is The Meaning Of This Treachery??

Today in the mail I received a package! Now, normally, this would please me so. HowEVER. The contents of this package want to enrage me.
"What? What could be so bad? What IS it S4J?"
It is 2 books. One of them contains, "Four complete novels from the Heart of Colonial America"
In preparation for my trip to the Amish Country, I have been boning up on tragic Amish fiction. So this book does not bode well for the home renovation process. Perhaps I could read with one hand and stain cabinets with the other.
But this is not the worst of the contents. "NO??" No! People, I tell you - there is a naughty girl among us! The other book in the package is the first book in a SERIES. YES! You read me right! The FIRST. In a SERIES. You might be thinking, "Oh - how fun! A series." Sure, series' are all well and good WHEN YOU HAVE THEM ALL. I cannot tolerate cliffhangers. They actually cause me chagrin. (Did I use that right?). So - are ALL the books in the series contained in the package? No. I repeat. NO.
Perhaps I am over-reacting. Perhaps what I need to do is call up naughty girl and ask her if this is a self-contained first book of the series, or am I going to have to wait until the next book to find out about key happenings of key characters. I can't read the book MYSELF to find out because if I do and it is not self-contained then I will have to spend some time in chagrin.
Treachery. That's what it is.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 15

A happy Father's day to all you Fathers and 'Fathers-in-kind' as they put it at church today. Those women who are holding down the fort being Mother AND Father to their children while their men are away. God bless you all!






Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
Genesis 1:31

Brought to you in song by C and me. She joined me at church today and we sang this during the offering. Beautiful day. This version is from our recording session.





Saturday, June 14, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 14


Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 36:5



Friday, June 13, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 13


...Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10


Funny; I wasn't going to do this verse today. However, God has me chewing on it. I typically hear this verse directed to hurting, non-believers. Or the focus is verse 9, "...ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." People take that as, "I just kneel; state what I want; and VOILA! There it is." Just for the sake of correctness, I will point out that the context of these verses in Luke, is part of Jesus answering His disciples, the question of, "Teach us how to pray". (These verses are also found at Matthew 7:7-8)


Today God is telling me to focus on verse 10 and speak to you who are believers. ARE you asking? ARE you seeking? ARE you knocking? Or did you say in your prayers this morning (if you prayed this morning), "Lord! I wish You would just tell me what You want me to do about this thing or that! Okay - I have to go now - my coffee is ready. Thanks Lord." And then get your coffee so you could get on the phone and consult your friends as to what you should do?


Why do you suppose Jesus suggests asking AND seeking AND knocking? Could it be because He is telling you that you need to spend the time doing the work? When there is something in your life that you have asked for God's help with, and the help is not forthcoming - or the answer is not clear, perhaps it is because He has already provided the answer but YOU have not spent enough time with Him to hear it. Don't get me wrong - there ARE times when God's answer is "wait" but as God is asking ME today (yes - insert S4J everywhere you see the word YOU), "How much time did you spend praying over that subject? How much time did you spend searching My Word for the answer? Were you actually paying attention during your devotion time, or were you thinking about how well this would blog? Did you go to the PHONE or did you go to the THRONE? And who is your request about? Is it about Me, or is it about you?"


Jesus is perfect. He does not lie. If He SAYS ask, seek, and knock, and you will get it - then that is what will happen.


Ouch. I have to go take a nap now. Geez.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 12


Another glimpse of the glorious worship we'll be doing in eternity....


Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb...

...Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!

Revelation 7:10&12



Wednesday, June 11, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 11


The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

This, my friends is my prayer to you in your comings and goings.

Brought to you in song by Mel and the Praise Team. Absolutely one of my all-time favorites and I am not a 'hymn girl'

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

A Verse ~or 2~ A Day - 10 June

Isaiah 6:1&3

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted and the train of His robe filled the temple...

...And they were calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."

How amazing it must have been for Isaiah to see this beautiful sight! It's so exciting to have God's Word to give us glimpses into eternity!

A song? Oh yes.

We Interrupt The Currently Scheduled Home Renovation For This Hamper Scamper Just In!


FOLKS! Did you KNOW that you should clean the grease filter above your stove ONCE A MONTH??!! Did you even KNOW there was a filter there AT ALL?? Well now you do. I have NEVER in my life even one time cleaned one of these nasties. We have lived in this house for three years. GROSS! And dangerous. I imagine that thing is somewhat like a duraflame log on steroids at this point. Maybe your Mother never told you this. Mine didn't. Maybe she doesn't know either. I only know this now because in the midst of renovating our kitchen, we had to replace the range hood and purchase a new microwave. They now manufacture Over The Range Microwaves that will clean and recirculate the air - or vent it outside the house - whichever you prefer. So, we took care of 2 purchases in 1. When my husband was installing said microwave, he read that the filter needs to be cleaned once a month and I was completely shocked. So I did a little net research and found this helpful info courtesy of Rangehoodsinc.


How often should I clean my filters?
The aluminum mesh grease filters should be washed in your dishwasher approximately every month depending on the amount of usage. Wash often if your cooking style generates greater grease like frying foods or wok cooking. The more grease you use, the more you need to clean the filter. You cannot clean the non-duct carbon filters; they must be replaced.
Baffle filters, which are used in professional style range hoods products, are designed to operate longer in high grease conditions without loss of performance. Generally, these need to be cleaned with soap and water whenever the surfaces become unsightly
.

How often should the non-ducted range hood filters be replaced?
It depends on the frequency and type of cooking that is performed. Normally, every three (3) to six (6) months is recommended for replacing the charcoal filters. Some charcoal filters are designed with an indicator mechanism that will change color as a signal to replace the filter. Check each model for this availability as some models do not include this device.
Seriously people - this is a fire hazard. Get that thing down and clean it out!
GO!!

Monday, June 9, 2008

AVADIJ-E4 - June 9


Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

Psalm 47:6



What's that? You want a song too? Oh. Okay....



Sunday, June 8, 2008

Verse A Day



The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17
Want to hear it in song?? From the album I have been urging you to get!!


Saturday, June 7, 2008

AVADIJ-E4

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15

Friday, June 6, 2008

A Verse A Day In June - Except For 4

Gretchen has issued a challenge of great and worthy proportions! Post one verse every day in June. I'm going to play too! God's Word NEVER returns void and you can only grow closer to Him by being in it.

Matthew 17:5
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
Have a beautiful and blessed day all...back to home renovation I go...

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Where Does It Go?

Okay Internet - it occurred to me this morning that I am getting a new kitchen and everything has to be put back into that kitchen. But where does it go? Do I put everything back where it was before we completely stripped the entire room of its contents down to the studs? OR, do I get some advice from Canadians, Romanians, the Amish and such on where is the most useful place to put things in the kitchen? I say, "Get help!" (possibly I will need to do this in the psychological sense if my house does not get back in order soon)
The basic configuration of the kitchen will be the "work triangle". The refrigerator will be on one wall with some cabinetry to the right of it. The sink will be on another wall with cabinetry on both sides. The dishwasher will be directly to the right of that. The stove/oven/microwave will be on the third wall with cabinetry on both sides of that.
So - what's the word? Do you keep the plates next to the stove, or closest to the dining table? Spices on top of the fridge - or next to the stove? (NO - we did not get the fancy spice cart-roller-cabinet-thingy). Also note that I am going to IKEA on Saturday and will have the opportunity to pick up beautiful organizer helper things. Tell all your bloggy friends to swing by and advise me too. Will you? Please?
Ah, Back to work.
Here's another tidbit....a picture of my grouting tools...