Candid Chatter

Just Say It

Happy 4th of July July 3, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 5:56 am

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We are celebrating by hosting a family party on Saturday and we hope to see fireworks too. It has been raining a lot so my fingers are crossed. My kids LOOOOOVE fireworks.

Rich gets the day off so it is sure to be wonderful for all of us.

I hope you all are blessed. See you soon.

 

As Time Flies July 1, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 6:24 pm

hands

I whispered in his ear as he closed his eyes to sleep, “Don’t leave your mom, baby Jack, I might need you someday… you stay close, sweetie… marry a good girl… a good Christian girl.” Then I laid him down and covered him with a blanket.

It’s been almost 6 months since our Jaxon was born. It has gone by in a blur.

People tell me all the time to “cherish these moments”. I promise you that I do. Every moment I get with these angels of mine is a pure blessing.

They are growing up so fast. Too fast.

So as time flies I breathe in their smells. Brianna’s hair after she sweats has a distinct smell, but it’s one that I enjoy. It’s her smell. Jeremy’s breath might knock someone else out, but I like it. A lot. Jaxon’s pacifier smells like him and so does his neck. My sweet smells. The ones nobody will enjoy, but me.

I giggle at their tiny underwear and hands and feet.
I smile at their silly words, “amen’t (means am not), i’m going to take a sleep (instead of nap), pam (instead of ham)”. And so many more.

Jeremy pretends to cut the grass. Someday it will be his chore.
Brianna helps fold laundry. Someday it will be her chore.
Jaxon will probably be the one to take out the trash on garbage days.

Heh!

I love these kids. Adore them.

And, time is flying.
I am aware of it like I am aware of myself.
I know it’s flying.
I know to cherish the moments.
I know.

 

Am I In or Am I Out? June 29, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 5:50 am

I am getting sick of the Internet.

Really sick of it.

However, I come here daily. Several times a day, in fact.

I come here for the adult “conversation”. I come here to laugh. I come here to debate. I come here to stir up something so I can turn the table and make it spiritual or align it with the Will of the Father. I come here to do Kingdom work. Sometimes it is purposeful. Sometimes it is for entertainment.

I’d rather read a blog or catch up on Facebook than watch TV.
I’d rather check out Fox News than watch the news on TV. Heck, I can’t watch the news on TV for fear something will be said or shown that is inappropriate for my young kids.
I don’t have time to carry on a real conversation on the phone any longer so I e-mail.
I don’t have to go to the library to research anything. I can just Google search it.
I can even sign up for and go to college online.

Sometimes I seriously consider closing my blog and deleting my Facebook account.
I don’t use Twitter. I refuse.
I don’t use MySpace either. Too childish.
I deleted about half of the blogs I had subscribed to on my Google reader about 4 months ago. No time.
Am I getting close to disappearing from Internet land for awhile?

I’ve taken time off here and there. But, when I do that I get bored and pace my house or get ideas that always cost money. I’ll take the kids to fun places, but that also costs money usually. Sometimes a lot. Sometimes a little.

I’ve often wondered if it’s so bad being on the computer. It’s probably not. But, inside this thing wells up telling me that I shouldn’t. Guilt? Maybe. But, why? I don’t neglect my family. I don’t neglect my duties. I sometimes avoid housework, but who doesn’t. The other day I did not want to clean the inside of my house so I went outside and trimmed the bushes instead. I was still avoiding the inside work.

I still read my Bible. I still pray. I’m not letting it interfere with my spiritual growth. Sometimes I even use the Internet to help with my studies. So that’s not an issue.

Why do I occasionally think I should not be online? Millions of people are online every single day for one reason or another. Why do I think I shouldn’t be?

I don’t know.

Am I missing anything by being here?
No.
I don’t think so anyway.

Am I lacking a life?
Not even close.
I have a wonderful life and awesome family and loving husband.
I have great friends.
I belong to a fantastic church body.
I feel like I’m on the go more often than not unless it’s laundry day or take a break from being in the van day or Mommy is too sick to drive day (which has been happening a lot more than usual lately).

What is it then?

Does anyone else who spends time online connecting with others socially (not work related) feel this way?

 

I Saw a Sign June 27, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 7:56 pm

At one of my favorite stores.
Target.
I am going to buy it for my friend and also one for me.
It said…

“Dear Lord,
If you can’t make me skinny, please make my friends fat.
Amen.”

I love that sign!

 

How Were You Saved? June 26, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 6:13 am

man-reading-bible

I said the sinner’s prayer a couple of years before I had a God-filled knock my socks off moment. I will elaborate on my own testimony in another post.

Lots of things tied into my eternal destination.
Like…

  • my parents raised me in the Catholic church
  • my in-laws are Bible reading Spirit-filled Christians
  • my husband prayed for me

But, I wasn’t saved because I saw someone else reading a Bible.
I wasn’t saved because someone came up to me in a parking lot asking me evangelical questions.
I wasn’t saved because I went inside a pretty church.
I wasn’t saved because I was baptized as an infant.
I wasn’t saved by some preacher’s powerful message.

How about you?

How were you saved?

 

Gifted? June 25, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 6:07 am
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

I am seriously considering having my son, Jeremy, tested for giftedness.

Ever considered this for your child?
Ever actually have the child tested?
Thoughts?
Anyone?

geniusbrainI just don’t know yet.

 

Defend Myself? June 24, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 5:27 am

“It takes balls to be a Christ Follower… big hairy ones!”

I said that. On Facebook. To Jason.

Jason blogged about defending yourself as a Christian against persecution after he Facebooked about it. His Facebook post got a few comments. Nothing on his blog though. I would have liked to have seen a bigger debate. Silence makes me uncomfortable. Nevertheless, behind it all, he and I decided I would blog about it too.

I believe Jesus is very specific about how to handle our enemies. Under the heading in my Bible, “An Eye for an Eye” (Matthew 5:38-42), Jesus says not to resist our enemy, turn and offer the other cheek if someone strikes us, if someone sues us we are to give them more than they are asking for, if someone forces us to go one mile we are to go an extra mile with them, and to give to whoever asks and do not turn away from a borrower.

In the next paragraph headed, “Love for Enemies” (Matthew 5:44), Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

What?

That not only goes against the worldy view of getting even. It goes against the grain for most people.

But, Christ performed most of these acts of loving His enemies during His crucifixion. When He was struck He did not strike back. He allowed Himself to not only be whipped, but also to be made into a human whipping post which removed most, if not all, of the skin from his back. He did not defend Himself in the court. He prayed for the leaders while He hung dying on that cross… “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Forgive them.
For they know not what they do.
He knew they had no clue they had just murdered their Savior.

Sometimes that verse makes me wonder if God will forgive others who know not what they do.
Like Atheists.
Like Muslims, Shiites, Buddhists, etc.
Like Homosexuals.
Like Drug Addicts.

Anyway. I don’t want to get off topic.

I believe, as Children of God, we are told not to defend ourselves against Christian persecution. We are to just take it. He was talking to His disciples when He gave those instructions. He meant us, His followers.

It takes balls to be a Christ Follower. It is hard. People will make fun of you. Even those who supposedly love you. Even your own family. Even your own friends and neighbors. Even your boss and co-workers. You can count on it. You can expect it. You can also rejoice in it.

Yes, I said rejoice!

Matthew 5:3-12
The Beatitudes (source www.biblegateway.com)

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

PS: It has been brought to my attention that Shiites are Muslims. Now you know how much I know about World Religions. Woops. I didn’t delete what I wrote b/c if I did one of my comments would make no sense. Thanks.

What say you?

 

Monkey Hooks June 23, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 5:36 am

monkeyhookThe monkey hook

Ever see these at the hardware store?
Bought some today. Four for $3.00.

Here is how they work.

monkeyinstructionsAnd they REALLY work!!!
I hung a 10 pound picture on one that I stuck in the wall
with my own small bare hands
and
it works!!!
Go buy some. They are so neat!

 

And He Rolled June 22, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 5:49 am

My baby Jack rolled over yesterday from his tummy to his back. What a cool thing to accomplish on Father’s Day!

I hope all you Dads out there had a great time yesterday. We did!! It was awesome to spend a whole day with Rich. It has been a rough coupla weeks with me being sick twice and him working double the usual. Happy Monday!

IMG_5888_edited-1 copyJaxon in the exersaucer
5 months old

 

Sick… again June 19, 2009

Filed under: Life... The Way I See It — candidchatter @ 6:04 am

This time it’s the flu. It started Tuesday night and I’m still nauseous.

Happy Father’s Day to you Dads out there in Internet land.

See you after Father’s Day.