1000 Gifts #155-

• #155-Sparkly blue Christmas ornaments
• #156- Blue Christmas trees#
• #157-Helping a sick family member
• #158-Seeing your workplace support one who lost their spouse
• #159-Snow days
• #160-Unexpected friend requests
• #161-Excellent spellers (though you try to keep a secret from 'em)
• #162-75% off sales
• #163-Settling back into the routine
• #164-Three day weekends
• #165-Seeing growth
• #166-Reflection
• #167-Laughing with a friend 'til your stomach hurts
• #168-Finding just the right gift for someone
• #169-Realizing "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13)
• #170-Christmas parties
• #171-Belated Christmas gifts
• #172-Frozen yogurt (with a friend!)
• #173-Chocolate cupcakes
• #174-Heartfelt thank-yous
• #175-Knowing you've truly helped someone

Because It's Funny

So I heard this song on the radio yesterday while driving to work.  And proceeded to have a conversation about it with a friend who said she'd heard the title, but not the lyrics.

So being the good/bossy friend I am, I youtubed it and sent the link to her.  While doing so I found this:



C'mon.  You know you laughed.

Wide Eyed and Bushy Tailed

So my sister finally made good on a promise to herself this week.

She adopted a kitten.

And he is precious.  He was found on the side of the road with his sister, so the people named them Bonnie and Clyde.  He was scheduled to be put down next week and Kel couldn't bear that.  Kel adopted him,  decided Clyde didn't suit him (probably after the Gillespie debacle) and renamed him Tiger.

Which brings me to my post.  She brought him to my parents house the other day and she was so proud to show him off.  Tiger, being accustomed to living on the side of the road or in an animal shelter, was not yet comfortable with all of us.  He was, indeed, wide eyed and bushy tailed. 

Kel said he had spent the night in her apartment mostly away from her.  Somehow she'd left a bathroom cabinet door open, and he spent the night nestled under a pile of folded towels.  He hid under her bed, and only came out to eat or use the litter box, not even to play with the toys that were just for him.

Tiger didn't understand just yet that he had been adopted into a family.  And while we held him and cooed over him and told him he was safe and wouldn't have to worry about anything again.

Isn't that just what our God has done for us? 

We, too, have been adopted into a family. (Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 1:5, The Message).

Even if we turn away and hide (be it under towels, in workaholism, alcoholism, success, or whatever), He does not love us any less. ("I've never quit loving you and never will.  Expect love, love and more love!" Jeremiah 31:3 The Message)

He saved us from death.  ("For God so loved the world that He gave his only Begotten Son that who ever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16-17 NIV)  

Even though some days may be difficult or scary, God is still there.  ("Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Dueteronomy 31:6 NIV)

Since this is a new relationship, it will take time to grow.  They will need to spend time together to learn to that Kel can be trusted.  But it will be an exciting journey for them both. 

Make that two of 'em wide eyed and bushy tailed. :)

Workin' On A Building

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1

Reading this verse last night struck me.  I knew that the words did not mean that a wise woman literally built her house with her own hands, but figuratively, so it got me to thinking:

How does a woman build her house?  And how does she tear it down? 

And I feel like the Lord spoke to me and said, "With words and deeds." 

So I am now examining my life, trying to make sure that the words that exit my lips and the actions of my heart and hands build my house and do not destroy it.



(Because like all good Kentuckians, I think Bill Monroe is awesome!)

The Sweetest Gift

So I made no bones about the fact that Christmas Break 2010 was two weeks spent being ill. 

So ill I only left the house to go to the doctor.  No Christmas shopping, no present swapping, in short, no fun.

However, that did not stop a very sweet gift from making its way to my very bedside.  Before I tell you the gift, let me give you a little exposition.

You have to understand, my father ended his role as a bachelor at the ripe age of 39.  I came along when he was 41.  Daddy was the last of his brothers and sisters to get married, so my grandmother and grandfather on that side were already old when I came along.  Case in point:

I was two weeks old in this picture.  My grandmother was 76.  By this point, she already had 34 other grandchildren and had gone blind.  This is how I remember her.  An old woman.  She was smart-even though she was unable to see, she could play the piano and knew the Bible backwards and forwards.  She also knew all the grandkids' names what we liked to do.  As I got older she lost a little weight, but I will always remember her like this.

Until Christmas Eve 2010.  My parents drove to Tennessee, where this grandmother lived and many of my relatives still call home.  Upon returning, Mama came in my room and presented me with this:

The first time in my entire 30 years I have ever seen my grandmother as a young woman.  She was born in 1904 and no one knew when this picture was taken.  We all guessed she could be no more than 18.  The picture I have is a copy of the original, but the original must be somewhere around 100 years old.  My aunt had it and made a copy for my dad.  It's embarrassing to admit, but I had never even tried to imagine what she looked like-I had assumed some people were just born old in my childish way.  And looking at this photograph, I see so much resemblance of my father and my cousin Judy.  This photograph ties together generations.

I've seen plenty of pictures of my other grandmother as a young woman, but none of my daddy's mother.  Of all the gifts I received this Christmas, this was the sweetest gift.

Dear 2010

Dear 2010,

I mean this is the kindest way:

Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

There, I've said it.  'Cause you know, I've dealt with:

• Daddy having a mini-stroke at 4 a.m.
• 3 snow days (aka not leaving the house for 3 days)
• One close friend losing her grandfather to Alzheimer's
• The same friend losing her father to cancer two weeks later
• One friend's father lost a toe
• A friend losing their home
• The possibility of losing my job
• An ice storm
• Stomach virus
• The flu
• Bronchitis

And that's just December.  I'm not going to recount what happened the other 11 months.  December alone has been brutal.

And as I type this, there are still nine days left in the year.  I honestly can't remember when I've seen a year that was filled with so many trials.  And it wasn't just for me, it was for everyone.  I can honestly think of two people who would classify 2010 as a "good" year.

So I will not be sad to see you go.  In fact, ushering you out may be the best part of the entire year.  And because I feel a song comin' on, here are my final words to you, 2010.  Take heed.  Pay close, attention.

Sincerely,
Robin

     

Now Let Me Clear My Throat

Okay, I'm not too proud to admit that as recently as two weeks ago I thought I ran my life. 

You see, Christmas break was coming up, and here were my plans:

1. Sleep late-every single day.
2. Catch up with friends.
3. Go into my classroom and get some stuff done.
4. Be proactive and get some planning done for the new year once I returned.

There were various sundry items on this list as well.  But last and certainly not least:

• Hit up the after Christmas sales in a major way.

My class was supposed to have their Winter Party on Thursday, December 17th.  Due to a large amount of snow and ice, school was canceled  Thursday and Friday.  I did not leave the house (except for a very embarrassing attempt at shoveling the driveway) from Wednesday until Saturday. 

Sunday I went with my parents to Sam's Club about 20 miles away and was fine.  Monday I woke up with a headache but thought nothing of it.  (First mistake.)  I went into my classroom and worked like a little busy bee, bringing home a ton of stuff with me to do over the next 14 days.  

By Monday night, I was sick with the flu.  And I mean sick.  Like, today marks day 10 with it.  And over the past ten days, I have finished off three bottles of cough syrup, three Kleenex boxes, three bags of cough drops, and one Mucinex tablet box. 

And because I waited until Sunday to seek medical attention, the doctor told me I would just have to tough it out.  Which means all my grand intentions for this break have been just that.

But all is not lost.  I've gotten caught up on my twilight sleep.  Which means I saw an ad for this. 

Doesn't it remind you of that episode of "30 Rock" with the Pajamarals?