Extra! Extra!

At the crack of 9:50 (exactly 15 minutes after I pulled myself out of bed......that's right) there was a knock on the door. Under normal circumstances that early in the morning, I would have shuddered in fear, hiding my bra-less body in a dark corner, holding the mouth of my yearning-to-bark dog, waiting for the intruder to resign himself to the fact that no one was home.

But not today.

Today was the day that my husband had set up an appointment with the Cable Guy.

Did I just type that?

We have not had cable in our home for several years now. I love the fact that with just the standard channels, there are actually times when nothing is on. Yes, times when the best option is to turn the tv off and read a book or play a game with the family. I love those times. I had no desire to return to the plethora of options that keep you glued to the tv, usually tracking several "must-see" events at once.

Unfortunately, "Deal" is my husband's middle name. He simply couldn't ignore the fact that if we signed up for cable, we would lower our current high-speed internet and phone line costs, therefore paying $20 less per month for all three services than we were currently paying for just the other two.

No brainer? I don't know. We'll see.

Here's the interesting discovery I made tonight. We are all still programmed to tuning in to our old standbys. The tried and true channels that we've grown accustomed to over the years. The evening was spent enjoying shows on the channels we've always had, even though there was a treasure trove waiting for us with a touch of the remote. In fact, Ben was disappointed when he glanced at the clock and noticed that he'd missed the sports segment on the local newscast. Then he brightened and said, "Wait! I can watch Sportscenter tonight!" What a concept.

It reminds me of the untapped potential that we so often deprive ourselves of. We tarry through this world on our own power, laboring endlessly trying just to survive, when, in fact, we have the unlimited resources of an Almighty God at our disposal. It's so natural for us to rely on our own strength rather than tap into the magnificent resources of a Father that loves us so much more than we could ever know.

It's time to turn the channel.


"My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." -God

Conversation Killers

Example #1

Setting: Walmart
Purpose: Purchasing one yard of purple fabric to cover the box of Aunt Lauren's remains for the memorial service
Salesperson: "Oh, what a great color! Are you making a cape for a Halloween costume?"



Example #2

Setting: Alaska Airlines flight
Purpose: Returning home from the funeral in San Jose
Flight Attendant Seth: "Did you and your girls have a great time in San Jose? Did you all go to Great America?"


This is my life lately. : )

For the First Time

For the first time, she can hear a bird's call.

For the first time, she can hear the whistle of a breeze.

For the first time, she can hear the waves crash.

For the first time, she can hear the flute's trill.

For the first time, she can hear the beat of a drum.

For the first time, she can hear a friend's laugh.

For the first time, she can hear her mother call her name.

For the first time, she can hear the purr of a cat.

For the first time, she can hear the whisper of a stream.

For the first time, she can hear the roar of a lion.

For the first time, she can hear the blare of a trumpet.

For the first time, she can hear the symphony of the ages.

For the first time, she can hear the vibrato of angels.

For the first time, she can hear her Heavenly Father say, "Well done."

For the first time of many.


Ben's Aunt Lauren lived a life of silence, but no more. Yesterday, she was ushered to heaven by her savior to experience many firsts. And I have a feeling that the newness will never fade, even for all eternity.

How glorious that must be.

A Good Morning

Having intentions of going to bed early and finally morphing back into the school schedule, I downed an otc sleep-aid and hit the sack by 9:30 last night. Quite a change from my summertime hours. Things were going exactly as planned. I figured I could see Gabby off to school at 7:30 (praise God she has a ride to school this year!!), then crawl back into bed until 9:00, when I'd make breakfast for Greta and start our school day here at home.

Perfect.

Until 2:45am.

Whenever the phone rings in the middle of the night at our house, it always means some sort of emergency in the church. The sound goes right through me like a lightening bolt. We've had everything from the news of a sudden death to a report that someone lit the church on fire. Unfortunately, our bedroom phone was left out in the dining room that night. I darted out of bed at record speed, charging down the hall to answer the phone, sure that someone in distress was on the other end.

"Uh, is Kim there?" came the raspy, surfer-like voice of someone obviously driving down the highway.

I've made plenty of wrong number calls in my life, so I always respond with kindness in these situations. Even at 2:45am. I apologized and explained that he had the wrong number. Then, concerned that he might make the same mistake twice, I carried the phone back with me to bed, waiting about five minutes for the second mistake phone call. It never came.

Relaxing into my pillow, I drifted back to sleep, still thinking my plan should be intact.

3:05am: the phone rings again. I had been asleep for 10 minutes. Not good. Mercy gift not high. I check the caller ID, confirm that it's Kim's friend, then decide to let the voice mail take it. Problem solved. Back to sleep.

3:15am. What? Seriously? Again?

My lack of mercy gifting is now in full force. I answer not with a pleasant "Hello," but with, "Are you looking for Kim? This is the wrong number. There is no Kim here. Please do not call this number again."

Assuring Ben that everything was ok and that it was just a wrong number, I tried to return to the land of nod.

Not successful.

I head out to get a glass of water, pick up a book and retreat to the couch, reading until 4:15am.

Needless to say, my perfect morning didn't happen. Gabby left the house without me even aware that she'd gotten out of bed. Ben left shortly after that, or so I assume.

The next thing I know, I hear a sweet voice from the kitchen call out, "Order up!"

Glancing at the clock, I am amazed to read 10:25am. Oh well. At least my intentions had been good.

My morning turned out pretty darn good, though, I'd say. This is what greeted me at the kitchen table, made by the loving hands of my sweet Greta Rose:

Succumbed

It's really not like me. I still haven't even seen the first Batman movie yet (or second or third or fourth or....whatever), simply because there was too much hype around it and everyone "had" to see it. But I guess even the strongest must fall at times.

I created a Facebook Page.

Have I sold my soul to the devil? Tell me now, while there's still time to get out.

If you approve of this sort of behavior, and, in fact, have a Facebook of your own, then, "Help!" I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing or how to add things or navigate around or anything. What I have seen, though, is that it's a huge labyrinth of people. Basically, I've found that I have virtually six degrees of separation from practically everyone I've ever been introduced to in my life. It's crazy, but sort of fun all at the same time.

Advice from Blogland? Tales of your Facebook experiences? Horror stories? Delightful reunions?

The Great Outdoors

Why hasn't someone ever told me that it's complete and utter heaven to go camping without the kids?

Naps. Books. Quiet. Thinking. Togetherness. Nothingness. Prayer. Dreaming. Laughing. Bonding. Fireside. Talking. Wondering. Loving. Hiking. Sitting.

Then doing that all over again.

True Story

Date: 8-20-08
Time: 6:18pm pacific daylight time
Location: The outside eating area of Taco Del Mar



I touched a bat and I liked it,
Its fur like velvet carpet.
I touched a bat just to try it.
Hope I don't end up real sick.
It felt so soft, it felt so weird.
Don't think I want this new pet.
I touched a bat and I liked it.
I liked it.

There. You now have alternative lyrics to remember. You're welcome.

Braced......Again

In the classic tradition of her mother and her older sister, Greta has joined the wonderful world of orthodontia.

Greta and her good friend, Chloe, both fresh off the slip-n-slide to take the edge off of the 103 degree day, jumped in the car to head for the offices of Dr. Amborn, the best orthodontist there is! Too bad Chloe couldn't stay for the appointment, but as you can see in the picture, she has already had an appointment of her very own.



Gabby and I knew exactly what she was in for.......

So far, so good.........

And, voila!! I didn't think it was possible for Greta to get any cuter than she already was, but apparently she can!

And it didn't seem to hinder her piano playing skills!

Camp Cherith Was SOOO Griffo!

What an awesome week! So much fun and so many highlights!
.
Last year, camp was a growing experience in my life, and it even made me question if I did, indeed, want to return this summer. But as I read back my blog entry upon returning last year, I am again reminded that every year brings about its own experiences, lessons, and purposes.
This year, God knew exactly what I needed: a group of spectacular high school girls, an incredibly awesome co-counselor, amazing Bible studies, and an all-around super FUN week!
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Here are some highlights:
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Sparrow and Ossie: The best team of high school counselors ever!

An awesome Laser Tag extravaganza in the forest!

Teaching Greta how to be a most excellent archer.

80's Night!! It was totally tubular!

Greta's cabin had a lot of fun, too!

So, yes, camp was totally griffo this year!

What? You don't know what "griffo" means? You are so totally out of it!

Actually, at the beginning of the week, our cabin decided to make up a word that we would use as "cool" and see if we could get the middle school girls to start saying it by the end of the week. Needless to say, it was easier than we could have imagined! By Tuesday, the middle school girls were not only saying it as if they'd been saying it all their lives, they were actually explaining to me what it meant! By Friday, the whole camp had made it part of their regular vocabulary.

Where'd we come up with "griffo?" Well, Grifo is the name of Sparrow's new puppy, which came from some sort of car make or model that Mr. Ranch is particularly fond of.

Girls. They're so griffo.

Almost a Month?

Oh my.

Time has, in a way, flown, and it has, in another way, gloriously meandered through a gorgeous summer so far.

The internet has not been calling my name in the slightest, so I am, unfortunately not up to speed on all the Blogland goings-on. That is not to say that I haven't thought about you, my dear Blogland friends. I have, in fact, wondered how the farm is, or if the new garden is coming in nicely, or if Reno is feeling like home, or how the house is coming together, or how the pregnancy is coming along, or how the baby is growing, or how the girls are growing, or what's new at the Ranch, or if your husband's caught any bass lately, or what you've knitted, or.......well, you get the point.

I have spent the last few weeks going through our house to prepare it for an addition: a "For Sale by Owner" sign. It made its debut last week and we have received exactly zero calls in reference to it. But that is perfectly ok. We are just testing the waters to see if there's any nibblers out there, but if it doesn't work out, we are completely content and happy to stay in our nice, comfortable home. We really do love it here, but it would be wonderful to have a little more outdoor breathing room. We'll see. It's in God's hands, which is the perfect place for it to be.

Julie and I took our girls to Wild Waves this past Sunday and Monday. We had an absolute blast! Good friends and sunshine are such a wonderful combination.

In approximately ten hours from now, I will be making my annual pilgrimage to Camp Cherith, where I will be able to be the counselor to the high school girls, along with the totally awesome Mrs. Ranch. We are really looking forward to our week and know that God has some super things in store for us and the girls. Greta will be coming to camp, as well, while Gabby will be helping Ben here around the house....I may give her a commission if she sells it while we're away, we'll see.

I miss you all, and I promise I'll catch up on Blogland after a return in a week. But until then, leave me a little comment with how you are doing and what the best thing so far this summer has been.

Thanks for being faithful friends!

Good-Bye Nails!

For the first time in my life, I am actually proud that my fingernails look like this:


Why?

Because I am finally working toward a goal that I have had for quite some time.

I'm learning to play the guitar! I've said that I've wanted to learn for years now, but have never put the time and effort into doing it. But now, two weeks into lessons, I now have visible calluses on my fingers and have learned some basic chords that have enabled me to play a few worship songs that my daughters have actually been able to sing along to, albeit, they have to be patient while I switch from D to G and right back to D again. Hard!!

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks, eh?







Maybe someday I can play publicly.....but until then, Poco is quite a sufficient audience for me!

What is something you've always wanted to learn?

Shreddin' the Years

"Bring on the auditor!"

That's what I always say. No prob-lay-mo.

I've got everything filed and under control. I can find any document or receipt at any time.

But according to the experts, it is only necessary to keep up to seven years of past records. If my calculations are correct, that means everything pre-2001 is simply taking up space.

So, I dusted off the old shredder and got to work.

I cannot tell you how such a mindless task of endlessly loading paper after paper into the shredder became such an assurance of God's grace, love, protection and faithfulness.

With each file that I opened, stories of the past came flowing out. Big, monumental events. Paying off college loans. Buying our first car. W-2s from my old Church Art Works days. Re-siding the house. Our Hawaiian vacation. Vet visits for my diabetic cat, Puff. Our first couch and love seat. The brass bed we bought right after we were married.

And so, so many more....



I would pull a file and look upon a snapshot in time. It would take me to a place that was, at one time, thought to be insurmountable. Over the course of our marriage, my faith has been tested as we faced life-changing decisions that were terrifying and unknown. I would watch as a remnant of those times, sometimes the only evidence that that particular event had ever occurred, would slowly make its way through the shredder and become unrecognizable.

What I realized, however, was that those papers were not really all that was left of the evidence of those events. The biggest evidence is the personal growth of my faith and trust in God to see us through those times where we would feel at our wit's end.

Buy a house? How in the world can we afford to do that?
Pregnant? How are we going to make it if I stop working?
Pregnant again? How will we afford two kids?
A bigger car? Where in tarnation will that money come from?
Faith Alive giving to church? Where are we going to get extra money to give to that campaign?
Competitive soccer costs how much? What budget will that come out of?
Our teenage daughter "needs" a cell phone????

and on and on it goes....

I was reminded today, in a very tangible way, that God always provides for our needs. He may not always provide our "wants," but I've learned that's usually for the best anyway.

I know, without a doubt, that we will face more uncertainties and mountainous events in our marriage, but I can rely on the promise that God already knows how each of those things will be worked out. As long as we continue to trust Him and make wise, prudent decisions, I can rest easy in His grasp.

As each shred of paper made its way into the large blue recycle bin, I couldn't help but think of Ecclesiastes chapter one, especially verse nine:

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."

Serenity

It finally happened.
.
I had a very peaceful, relaxing, quiet day today.
.
The (extended) weekend went extremely well, however. Many great memories and family moments.
.
God is good.
.
Here's a few moments from the last few days:
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Gabby's choir concert

Greta's softball game

My dad's birthday party (a slumber party!)

The last service in Court Street's old sanctuary

The dedication of the new sanctuary

Snake catching

And, of course, a family portrait

Whew!

.

Time to go to Bible study. Yea! That is just what I need. Thanks, God!

Jeopardy!

ANSWER:

.

My mom's camcorder, digital camera and cell phone; Gabby's digital camera & cell phone.

.

QUESTION:

.

What fell into the Pacific Ocean during a vacation to Hawaii, never to work again?

.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.

ANSWER:

.

$600

.

QUESTION:

.

How much did my mom spend on a new camcorder and digital camera in time to film all the events of this weekend, including, but not limited to: Gabby's choir concert, Greta's softball game, my dad's birthday party, the last service in Court Street's old sanctuary, the dedication service of Court Street's new sanctuary and my nephews' baseball game?

.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.

ANSWER:

.

The moist video tape that was retrieved from the water-logged camcorder.

.

QUESTION:

.

What destroyed our friend's camcorder that my mom borrowed in order to transfer footage of said Hawaiian vacation onto a DVD?

.

.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

.

Two Words:

.

SERENITY NOW!!!!

Jealousy

Gabby spent seven glorious days in Hawaii with my mom last week.

Dolphins may not be Killer Whales, but I'm jealous all the same.

Thanks, Mom! And I'm super happy for you, Gabby!!

Wake Up Call

I've always thought that being married is like one continual slumber party with your best friend. I absolutely love pillow talk, late night laughs, inside jokes, and just the great company in general.

I especially like it when something out of the ordinary happens. Like the time our cat, Puff, knocked a large glass casserole dish off of the top of the fridge right into the cast iron sink at 2am. We thought for sure it was an intruder. Ben displayed his finest Miami Vice moves around every corner of the house, sure that he was going to jump a burglar.

This morning was a fun one. Ben woke up at 5:30, to this crawling across the top of his head:


After screams and tissues and squishing and flipping of sheets and creepy crawly feelings and paranoia that there must be others, we had a great laugh!

Better him than me, but the morning that it produced was well worth it.

I will never grow tired of waking up next to my best friend.

The Prose Turns One

Don't you just love unexpected blessings?

From the little things like a friend surprising you at home with a plate of cookies when you and the kids are sick with the flu. To the big things like God leading your husband to a ministry that is beyond what you had scripted for your life.

Blogland has been an unexpected blessing in my life, for several reasons.

I have been blessed by getting to know many of my friends on deeper and interesting levels.

I have been blessed by forming brand-new friendships with some fabulous women.

I have been blessed by being able to express myself in writing.

On this one year anniversary of my very first post, I find that I am thankful for discovering this outlet.

Whenever I find a new blog that I enjoy, I always go back to their very first post to see how they began and what inspired them to begin blogging. Some people begin blogging to document a new child. Others blog to keep records of their growing children. Others share an intimate look at their spiritual growth. Still others simply enjoy sharing the little pleasures that greet their day-to-day lives.

I started blogging so that I could more actively participate in the lives of several friends in Blogland, while at the same time, satisfying my desire to write. I was not expecting to find new friends that would become dear, and to be filled up so wonderfully by the inspiring posts of all those I regularly visit.

Thank you, Blogland friends.

Here is how the Prose of Sharon began.

May there be many more anniversaries to come. Keep writing, dear friends! I only hope you enjoy my prose as much as I enjoy yours!

What Is the Plural of Virus?

Is it viri or virii, like the plural of cactus? Or perhaps vira nor virora?

Actually, it is quite simply: viruses.

My home has been invaded with viruses. Some alive, some not. All are invisible to the human eye, yet the symptoms they illicit are extremely obvious to even the casual observer.

How can something so minute be so powerful? How can something that I couldn't even see bring me to a place of utter uselessness?

To answer the questioned posed to you in my last post, the answer, at the time, was 102.6--that being my temperature. Now, however, under the aid of Advil, I am a cool 99.1, able to sit at my computer for a spell, pondering the strange phenomenon of being infected by a virus.

In spite of the hundreds of hand-washings, the liberal use of bleach and the loads of laundry through the hottest of cycles, I, apparently, was doomed from the get-go. I remember getting that "strange" feeling in my chest and throat. I knew the hours of being functional were numbered. There was nothing that could be done to stop it by that point. I made the best of the time that I had left, cleaning, organizing and caring for my girls, for soon, I realized, I would be a wasted and fevered lump under the covers of my bed.

Interestingly enough, I had just observed my laptop fall to the same horrible fate. One week earlier, I had noticed some unusual behavior from my trusty Dell. To Dell, it must have felt something like a tickle in its throat. Poor Dell. I ran for my Dell's medicine cabinet, by way of defragmentation and reconfiguration. The symptoms persisted and even grew worse. I knew a prescription medication must be in order, so I downloaded a spyware removal kit.

Alas, the virus that had infected poor Dell had already spread beyond any hopes of eradicating it. I watched hopelessly as Dell succumbed to a fatal disease caused by a tiny, non-living, non-feeling, non-remorseful virus.

As the strange feeling in my chest became more prevalent and I could feel my temperature rise, I thought about what I had just witnessed in Dell. I couldn't help but feel a kinship with my poor computer. Dell sat dormant on the table across from my bed, completely useless.

What I find most interesting, is that a virus is utterly useless by itself, unless it obtains a host. Once it accomplishes that, the host feeds the virus without even knowing it. What that means is that Dell was feeding its virus and I was feeding mine probably for days before we saw any adverse symptoms. My body was enabling the virus to grow and become for powerful day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, to the point where it was eventually more powerful than I was. Something microscopic succeeded in halting my entire life as I know it. Very humbling.

On a much larger scale, I can't help but draw the parallel between this virus and sin. The Bible depicts sin as yeast in I Corinthians. If you've ever made bread you know exactly how yeast works. Yeast, by itself, is worthless. It has to be activated. And once it is, there's no stopping it. Even a very tiny amount can affect an entire loaf of bread.

Sin is the same way. The concept, in and of itself, is worthless unless it is activated within a host--you and me. And the enemy is smart. Sin tastes so sweet at first that many times we are simply unaware that we are slowly being infected, all the while the virus of sin is planting its roots in our soul. By the time ugly symptoms begin to arise, the virus is usually way ahead of the game and very difficult to combat.

There is a VERY big difference between a virus and sin, however. As I found out at Gabby's doctor appointment last week, she had a virus--which now I have--and there are no medications that can fight it. But there IS a medication to the disease of sin: Jesus Christ. Because of His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, sin can be wiped out of my body time and time again. I do not have to fall victim to it and die, like my Dell.

That is the hope that I have. That is the hope that we all can have. We are powerless on our own. But God has promised us that same power that raised Jesus from the dead, if we just accept that free, healing gift. The medicine that is Jesus.

Romans 6:11-13 (The Message)

Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection.

We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.

That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I thank God that I do not have to fall victim to the virus of sin. I have to combat it every day, but through Jesus, I can claim the victory. So can you!

Sum It Up

Here's a mathematical equation for you:

What do you get when you add all of the things listed in the "Activities" section of my last post?

Take a guess. And remember, it's math, so the answer contains a number.

102.2 and 101.7 respectively

Those would be this morning's temperatures of Gabby and Greta.

Gabby came home from track practice (where she very impressively qualified for the relay team!) on Monday with a fever of 100.9. Greta's fever came last night, after three days of thinking she'd averted danger.

So with Gabby home all week, and Greta down for the count now, our last week home without Ben has been relatively quiet, with the exception of sporadic coughing attacks and frequent water refills.

Our accomplishments have included:

Movies: Enchanted, Little Mermaid, Bambi, High School USA, Legally Blonde*, Best of Chris Farley SNL*, and Dumb and Dumber*.

*Note: some movies were just for Gab and me~sorry Greta, you'll have to wait! : )

TV Shows: Survivor, American Idol, Regis and Kelli, Merv Griffin's Crosswords, and The Price is Right.

Food: Fresh bagels from Roth's bakery, Jamba Juice, lattes, Subway, apples, bananas, and tons of water and OJ.

Activities: Washing blankets, washing sheets, washing p.j.'s, bleaching bathrooms, bleaching kitchen, washing thermometer, rubbing backs, applying cold washcloths to foreheads, cuddling, loving, enjoying each other's company, cat naps, sleeping in, talking to Ben in Israel every day at 11am, and plenty of texting after 2:40pm when Gabby's school friends are let loose.

Lesson learned: Spending time with family is the best time that can be spent! I love these girls...fever and all! : )