We have just a bit over 90 days before the daughter's wedding. It's been fun to work with my daughter in the planning.
One fun thing I have been able to do is to look for flower girl dresses. Last week I ordered a couple online and after they were delivered, I just had to have the adorable flower girls come over to try them on. Thankfully they fit perfectly! Aren't they sweet sisters?
Then, because this is an important little girl thing, we tested them to make sure they twirled properly:
Pretty sure they passed the test! Love the smile on the girls' faces!
I came across this saying in a book I have been reading:
Sticks and stones may break my bones, words destroy the heart and spirit.
That struck something in me.
I experienced some incredibly hurtful words spoken to me a few months ago. Satan has tried to use them to destroy my heart and spirit. I know the words were spoken in the midst of great stress and personal pain, but I think maybe those are the times when we need to guard our words the most. When you are hurting is when it's easier to say hurtful things. Words are powerful. I almost wish the person would have thrown a rock at me. In time, that wound would have healed and probably not left a scar.
Proverbs 15:4 says:
The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Recovering from hurtful words is very difficult. Healing from being crushed takes a long time. Those words, only five words, have affected how I look at all my relationships.
I realized yesterday that when I don't look at myself through my Father's eyes, I don't see what He sees. I don't trust His lavish love for me. I don't trust His plan for my life. It affects my relationship with Him.
I struggle with this with my husband too. I don't trust what he sees in me and how he loves me and why he loves me. It affects our relationship.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
1 John 3:1a
I have been praying to see and feel that lavish love of God's. I know He showed it through Jesus and what Jesus did for my sins. I have asked God to show me in my everyday life.
I came across this quote in an article I was reading. (I don't remember who wrote it so I can give them credit.)
God can heal wounds and turn them into "holy scars" that declare God's grace, mercy and purposes.
I look forward to the day that I can look at this scar left by five words, and only see God's grace, His mercy and His purpose.
The weekly Random Dozen over at 2nd Cup of Coffee is hosted by Linda. Everyone's invited to join in the fun...just post your answers on your own blog and click on the button to link up with lots of awesome bloggers.
1. Have you ever fired a gun or shot a bow and arrow?
Uh-huh. Believe it or not. When I went to camp as a kid one of the activities was learning to shoot a bow and arrow. I got really good at loosing the arrows in the woods. I've held a rifle a few times. (Or was it a shot gun? I have no idea.) And I've shot those guns, but I once again didn't hit a thing.
2. Do you know where your childhood best friends are?
Most of them, no. I recently reconnected with my best friend from junior high days. She moved away right before high school amidst some pretty messy stuff in her family. I learned that she moved back to our hometown in her 20s and became a Christian. Pretty cool.
3. Do you usually arrive early, late, or on time?
If I am with my husband, always on time if not a bit early. If it's just me I tend to be either on time or 5 or 10 minutes late. This could be trouble for me since my hubby is starting a new job next week and we'll be apart during the week until the summer.
4. Are you more of a New York or California type?
Not sure if I know the difference. But evidently I'm an Upper Midwest type since I don't seem to be able to move out here. Yes, the hubby's new job is still in the Great White North. Yuck.
5. Do you have a special ring tone?
I had several different ones on my old phone. My favorite was Shackles by Mary Mary. I haven't set up any special ring tones on my new phone yet. Need to get on that. When I call my son, his phone plays "Hey Jude". Makes me giggle.
6. What is your favorite type of chip?
Most of the time, tortilla mostly because you can pair those with salsa and guacamole, of course, and how can you go wrong with salsa and guacamole? But then I ate at a restaurant last week in South Carolina that served fresh potato chips. They were sooo amazing I wanted to get some to go. But I didn't. I showed restraint. Shocking.
7. Best comedy you've ever seen is ....
I don't know if it's the best I've ever seen, but we saw a play last fall when we were in Door County that was really funny. It was Around the World in 80 Days. There were only 5 actors, four of whom played multiple characters. We really enjoyed it. As far as comedy movies there are the classics like While You Were Sleeping and Multiplicity.
8. Have you ever cut your own hair? To quote Dr. Phil, "How'd that work for ya?"
I have trimmed my bangs a few times and it worked okay. But I haven't done that in several years. I have a great hair dresser who I will miss when we move. Once when I was little I cut my eye lashes because I was afraid they would grow too long. Ha ha ha!
9. If you were going to have an extreme makeover, would you rather it be about your house or your personal self?
I have no idea what our next house will be like since we are about to move (did I mention that yet?). So a personal makeover would be good. Let's see, should I choose a physical makeover or a personality makeover? Hmmmm....
10. Are you allergic to anything?
I'm not allergic to any foods. I've only had one minor reaction to a drug. I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to ironing too.
11. Why is it so hard to change?
It's hard to change because you don't know what to expect. When things stay the same the outcome is easier to predict.
12. One last question dedicated to February love: CS Lewis said, "To love is to be vulnerable." Please share one example of that assertion or share any thought you'd like to about this topic.
I remember one example of this from my college days very well. A relationship I had thought was "the one" had just ended and I did not like the thought of someday starting another relationship and having to be vulnerable and let someone else in. Little did I know that "the REAL one" God had in mind for me was already a good friend to me. God blessed me greatly in that situation.
On the other hand, I have found this to be very difficult in friendships. I have worked at being authentic, vulnerable if you will, with many friendships over the years. Many of those haven't turned out as well. I won't go into much more detail. But I will say that with the upcoming move this makes me nervous. How vulnerable should I be with new people I meet? Not an easy question to answer.
At eight this morning (!) I had a dentist appointment. I know! What was I thinking... scheduling a dentist appointment first thing on a Monday morning? I don't know. It was a quick visit, but uncomfortable. I had to have some teeth reshaped. Yes, basically shaved/sanded. Weird. Evidently I should have had braces when I was 12 so my teeth are lined up better. Oh well. One more wonderful (that word should be in the sarcastic font) thing about getting older.
BUT.....
the GREAT thing about this Monday is it is my beautiful daughter's birthday! I can hardly believe my girl is 20. Was it really 20 years ago we headed to the hospital so early in the morning and could hardly wait to find out if we had another boy or a sweet girl? Oh my. What a blessing she has been to us. And in 103 days she will be dressed in a gorgeous gown and her daddy will be walking her down the aisle to give her away to an amazing man. We couldn't be more proud of her and the woman she has grown into. I admit I am having a hard time holding back the tears as this is the first birthday I haven't been with her. I am glad that her brother and sister-in-law will be taking her out for dinner tonight.
In other news....
A few Mondays ago my husband found out he was promoted. A good thing for him, a hard thing for me since that means we will be moving. Ugh. As you can see in my profile info, we live in a small town. Now we are moving to a smaller town. I am not looking forward to that. I mean, the town doesn't even have a Target for heaven's sake! How will I survive?
The move won't happen until after the wedding. I have so many feelings and thoughts about it all. I'm not sure how much I will share here. But maybe more than I am thinking right now. I am sure I will need to vent some things out.
1. If you could compete in one Olympic event (not necessarily winter sports) what would it be?
I have always thought figure skating was so graceful and beautiful looking. I always wished I could be graceful like that. I can't skate, though, so no chance of becoming proficient at it. I haven't been on ice skates for probably 14 years. The last time I did I fell and smacked my head on the ice and it hurt.
2. Do remember a specific Olympic moment from the past?
Mark Spitz and all those swimming medals. I was in junior high school.
3. Have you ever known anyone who competed in the Olympics?
Nope. Although, I went to the same high school and college as Dan Gable. He won a gold medal in wrestling in 1972. Just to clarify -- I wasn't in high school in 1972. I'm not quite that old...) His picture hung in the gym at my high school. He came to a football game in our home town some time after the Olympics and I got his autograph. Does that count as knowing someone who competed in the Olympics? (My husband just reminded me that my brother-in-law used to speed skate with Eric Heiden. Heiden won 5 gold medals in the 1980 Olympics.)
4. If everyday activities were Olympic-worthy, which activity would you have a gold medal in?
My husband says blogging. He's way too biased though, I think. I think baking. I get rave reviews from our Small Group members every week. I really do like to bake.
5. Do you know anything about your ethnic heritage?
I am half Swedish, a quarter German and the rest is a mix of Scottish, English and something else UK-ish. Both of my maternal great-grandmothers came from Sweden when they were young. One was about eight years old, the other was 18 years old.
6. Do you enjoy sleeping late?
Oh. My. Yes.
I saw this on some PJs recently. This is me:
7. Have you ever performed CPR on anyone? Do you know how? (Yes, that's two, I know. Whatevs.)
Nope. and Nope.
8. Name one country you'd like to visit and explain why.
It's a toss up between Hungary and Italy. Italy because I think it's beautiful and who doesn't like the food? Hungary because we have some very good friends who are missionaries there. I'd like to see the country, or at least the city of Budapest and see the ministry they have there.
9. Have you ever fixed up a couple romantically?
Nope. (I have a lot of answers like that today don't I?)
10. What is the last book you read? Watch Over Me by Christa Parrish. My daughter gave it to me for Christmas. I really liked it.
11. Do you enjoy sleeping late?NO, YOU write the question! How's that for random??
(The creator of Random Questions unknowingly repeated this question and when she realized it, suggested we dream up our own, but I got nothing. Not feeling the random creativeness this week...)
12. What is your favorite meal at your favorite restaurant?
Currently, I love the Lemon Chicken at Big Bowl. See? I like it so much I forgot to take a picture before I had eaten most of it:
Yes, I'm excited! No, I'm not in Minnesota. I flew to South Carolina with the hubby who came here on business. I'm enjoying the bigger city and have no idea how I will decide where to eat lunch tomorrow...so many choices! Chick-fil-A is on the list of possibilities for sure.
