WAITING IT OUT

Thanks for all of your prayers kiddos, I believe things are looking better on all fronts. Now we just have to wait it out. I know there's flooding again in New Orleans, but think about it: there's no one there (they're all gone), and maybe it'll wash away some of the debris that they haven't cleaned up yet. They'll just have to pump it out again next week, and they're back in business. Maybe they'll spend their downtime this weekend designing a levee that won't collapse every time they get a couple of feet of rain! It's not like it doesn't happen down there every other week! Lately.

But anyhoo, we're down to a Cat 3 and slightly eastwardly turned landing now, sparing my island paradise fantasy for the time being. Thank you Jesus. I have given Him Glory on my annual report booklet cover, quoting Ps 32:8, "He calms the seas to a whisper and stills the waves", with a picture of Rita's eye featured prominently in the background. It's just a prototype, but it may not make the final cut. Come on down to our annual meeting on Sunday after church and find out! And get your collector's edition of our Annual Reports 2005. Signed if you wish!

Sarah's team was victorious once again, high school sports fans. They defeated the visiting Belleville team 4-1. The lone goal scored against SH was again due to a pile up in front of the goal of SH defenders. It makes it very hard for Sa to see anything, but hey! Whaddya gonna do? They're still doing great. The game was so beset with mosquitoes, spectators were volunteering to be the ball boy to insure they would keep moving and avoid bites. Unfortunately for them, John had it covered. I hid in the car and read my paper, which made a handy swatter.

How was MY day? Well, truthfully I had a pretty stressful day today, campers. First I got like 48 phone calls. Rapid fire. Phone would ring, I'd deal with it, hang up and the phone would ring again. I accomplished nothing in the way of real work. In 1 hour and 45 minutes I had answered the phone 26 times, and if I was a swearing person, would have sworn I don't know maybe 23 times. I did make noises and squeezed the phone a lot, so I guess I was swearing in my heart. :/ Then to make matters worse, Onion stole my lunch money and Derek called my Mother names. Yeah. Nothing left to do but go to sleep and hope for a better day tomorrow. But it not going to be "good" because I have to work now, because I didn't finish the reports and ballots and everything. I did finish the bulletin. woot. That's it, no capital letter or anything.

*Sigh.

I need sleep. And a few days off. Sooooon.

But all that doesn't change the fact that God is in control and you are loved more than you know,

mom



Sonny Says: There's no Santa Claus, deal with it.

DISAPPEAR
Bebo Norman

On a day like this I want to crawl beneath a rock
A million miles from the world, the noise, the commotion
That never seems to stop
And on a day like this I want to run away from the routine
Run away from the daily grind that can suck the life right out of me
I know of only one place I can run to

I want to hide in You The Way, the Life, the Truth
So I can disappear
And Love is all there is to see coming out of me
And You become clear as I disappear

I don't want to care about earthly things
Be caught up in all the lies that trick my eyes
They say it's all about me, I'm so tired of it being about me

I would rather be cast away...
Separated from the human race,
If I don't bring You glory, If I don't bring You glory,
If I don't bring You glory.

GALVESTON REVISITED

Taking a little lunch break at church to post. Trying to catch up with all of the annual reports and make twelve people sound sort of consistent. After sixteen pages, I need a break.

Just got off the phone with Jere. He shared some of the latest updates on Hurricane Rita. I put the latest image on my desktop to get a real good look at it. Please pray. I have no gloom or doom commentary, or blame placement with or without scripture back-up (although if you haven't read my brother's Dave's Journal (9/4/05) Sermon about Katrina, you should. I leave that sort of stuff to the ones who are qualified. Me, I just feel in my spirit - Enough! I'm speaking (in prayer) to that storm "Enough! Go blow out to sea, and make some new troughs down on the ocean floor." I'm praying for protection and safety for the 6 million people who will be affected by this thing if it comes in at a Cat 5 at Galveston/Houston, where the projection is now. Jere said if Saffir Simpson had a higher category, Rita would qualify. I used to live in Galveston, but y'all probably already knew that. I have always wanted to go back there sometime, so I have a personal interest in their preservation. Selfish, I know. But part of me was formed down there. Maybe even a part of me that is now part of you. You never know. So anyway, I ask you to join with me in prayer for this area, and our country. and it's leadership.

John was given a green light on his Bible Club at SCHS. YES! He will begin holding meetings on Mondays. His curriculum is on the way, and he has already made his worship tape using Keith Green stuff mostly. Keith was new to the scene when Dad and I first got saved. He was such an uncompromising voice in those early days. Who knows, maybe he's one of the vehicles God used to help us prevail in our uphill struggles during our early days. His Record Album/CD is/was called No Compromise, and has been completely revamped and is still available 30 years later in a different form is all. Woot to John! Press on Bubba. You bless me silly.

Another game tonight. "Post" game stats will be available tomorrow. Sarah's is doing fantastic. And she doesn't even like soccer! She's still in first place in the Goalie standings. And her hair is awesome, too! Very long and gorgeous! It's picture day today! That's what made me think of it! Rose'll be home in a couple of weeks for the October break. We talk a lot, and she's the inspiration for my song choice today. Not the whole thing - just the part about being somewhere north of here, and missing her and all. She is very busy all the time, and very tired. But I'm pretty sure she's loving it.

Stephen is too. He enjoys his teaching job, and was searching diligently for a Dollar Store yesterday for "prizes" for today's' class. I'll see him Friday sometime after he comes home from Syracuse. Tommy is posting regularly now. He's going to be turning 21 next week (9/28, only 6 shopping days left!). There will be an Elim National Youth Conference called Saturate, that our Teen Group will be attending the day after his birthday and through that weekend. So he's letting them sleep in his basement Fri. and Sat. I don't know when Dad and I will get down to see him, but we'll be there sometime in the next couples of weeks, somehow. In the meantime John and Sarah and Aunt Kathy and RaeAnne will be our ambassadors. To make up for not seeing him, I went out and bought the Death Cab for Cutie cd he referenced in a recent post and sent it down. He seemed surprised but pleased. :/ ?

Jere's due home for church this weekend with Karen. He's coming for the Annual Meeting, really. He says he wants to "second something!" I told him to shoot for Firsting Something. Aim for the top. I haven't seen Jere since I dropped him off on August 12. Way long time ago...in Mommy days. Maybe afterwards we can drive over to Burrville and send him back with to Oswego with some fresh cider. OK catch up/lunch break is over. Time to move along.

Know you are loved,

MOM

...and now a few words of wisdom from my goat Sonny, whom I won in a bar bet.
Sonny Says: I want my own room.

Somewhere North of Here
Caedmon's Call

It's a muggy night in Houston
And all the intersections are like full serve stations
I'm on my way to a familiar place
It's cold in Kansas City
And you can no more hear me - than I can see your face
How I wish it was just you and me
We wouldn't have to talk about the crowd
We wouldn't have to talk so loud

I give you my life and all I am
But what have it to give
So I hand you a candid photograph of this little boy
'Cause I've nothing to my name
But I can give you that

I don't miss the driving
Seems like forever and I'm always driving in my mind
And wearing out the road that gets me there
And I'm driving till my eyes just can't see straight
But I suppose that it's getting late
I may never find the sleep
I've lost all feeling in my hands
and Feet may touch the ground
but My mind's somewhere north of here

THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO LEARN

I'm feeling pretty good today. Still planning on keeping things short, though. Gotta do it. You'll thank me later.
This week is very busy at church. We have our annual meeting on Sunday after church. So I have a lot of real work to do this week. Ballots and reports and minutes and cover designs and copying and collating - whew! - where will I find the time?

On the family side, tonight I find out about John's Bible Club and whether it received SHCS Board approval. Will let you know... Sarah's game went well yesterday. Another tie. Against the #1 team. 5-2-2 record. Doing great. I sound like George H. W. Bush. Don't mean to. Wouldn't be prudent. Just do.

The church windows go in this Friday. It's going to look awesome. Drop by if you can for our Land Service at 10:30 am on Sunday morning. No early service - sorry.

That's all I got...

Love,

MOM


...And now a few words of wisdom from my goat Sonny, whom I won in a bar bet.
Sonny Says: Hey have you seen this load of goatwash over at the Galley? Obviously the old woman has been missing her midday nap. Hey Libby: Are we out of gel or what? What about mousse? Come On!!!!


It's Garbage Day again here in Dexter, kiddies. We need a Spiritual Garbage Day, don't we? Just get up every Wednesday and go through the house and bag up the baggage and leave it out on the curb. It would do us all a world of good. Here's another thought:

THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN
SARA GROVES

WHEN I STAND BEFORE THE LORD, I’LL BE STANDING ALONE.
THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN.
STILL I WANT MAN’S ADVICE,
AND I NEED MAN’S APPROVAL.
BUT THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO LIVE FOR MAN, AND PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, ONLY TO LOSE MY LIFE?

SO MUCH OF WHAT I DO, IS TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION.
THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN.
AND SO MUCH OF WHAT I SAY,
IS TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK BETTER.
THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN.

AND I’VE NEVER FELT RELIEF, LIKE I FEEL IT RIGHT NOW.
THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN.
CAUSE TRYING TO PLEASE THE WORLD,
IT WAS BREAKING ME DOWN.
IT WAS BREAKING ME DOWN.

NOW I LIVE AND I BREATHE, FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE (X3)
CAUSE I KNOW THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN.

AND YOU CAN’T LIVE FOR SOMEONE ELSE; IT WILL ONLY BRING YOU PAIN.
I CAN’T EVEN JUDGE MYSELF, ONLY THE LORD CAN SAY…WELL DONE.
I LIVE FOR, I BREATHE FOR ONE, THIS JOURNEY IS MY OWN.

© 2000 SARA GROVES
CCLI# 61976

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

We survived Potsdam's Parents Weekend. Actually we thrived! We have Rochester's and Oswego's coming up, and maybe we'll get some sort of badge when we're all done! Friday of course was rainy, and that cancelled a lot of our planned activities, like the fireworks and lightshow. But instead we opted to hang out with Nikki Intschert at her Clarkson dorm for awhile, and then travel back across town to SUNY Potsdam's Dexter's Coffee and Dessert Bar for some more fellowship and reminiscing. Dad and I just kind of listened while Rose , Mike and Nikki relieved some SHCS glory days and shared some of their first few week horror stories as well. When we dropped Nikki off she agreed to go out with us again on Sunday, so I think our date was successful!

Saturday we weren't allowed to awaken the Princess before 11, so we dawdled the morning away with Aunt Sherry and Co. where we were staying for the weekend. We had been awakened at 5:45 by a rooster crowing, and crowing, and crowing. I went downstairs at 7 to get away from the noise and Dad followed me to go get a little closer by confronting the little monster. After picking up Rose, we toured a little more of the campus and then settled on Pizza Hut downtown for lunch using coupons! We then went to the Christian Supply shop across the street, and shopped for some supplies of a Christian nature.

After picking up Mr. Michael, we then made our way to a 3 PM matinee showing at the Roxy of Just Like Heaven. A cute little film that really made me think. I cannot recommend films because we're not allowed to as Pastors or leaders here at DFF. You lose no matter what when you recommend things across the board. But I can say I really liked it a lot. It asked the question, "What happens if...?" The previous comment has been deleted due to giving away too much plot. It just opened this weekend. I'll save my insight for a while. So yeah, anyway I'd never seen Hollywood ask that question before. If you visit there, stay out of the bathrooms if at all possible. I think Bonnie and Clyde were killed in the Women's room.

Sunday was church day! It was great. I loved their Sunday School class, although I had to fight the urge to help Pastor Rick Sinclair teach what with all of my wise and wonderful insight going to waste in the back row. I was able to fight myself off from sharing though, only to get a phone call later that the point I was going to make would have really helped my sister's friend understand a struggle she was going through. Life's quizzes. When to shut up vs. when to speak up. We went home shortly afterwards, although we did enjoy a BBQ Fellowship time after church, and a delicious artichoke spinach dip shared at the Buells with the Wagoners on the way through Gouveneur. We got home and enjoyed the quiet for awhile.

Monday I was supposed to relax and recover, while dad worked at the land. I was so going to catch up on the laundry and housework. But somehow the school heard I was laying around, so they called me in to sub for the first time in 1 1/2 years at Sackets. I did ISS with a couple of John's classmates who picked the Beaver Camp Trip to work out Alpha Male Issues. It was nice being back in the saddle again. I could have worked there three days this week!

Now it's back to my real job. Loving it! I got to send out a couple of care packages today. Four actually! I love doing that! I sent some stuff to Nikki and Leeann, and a little something special to Tommy to kick off the celebration of his 21st birthday next Wednesday. Also to my sister and the CFC church to thank them for their ministry! It was a great weekend. AND I'm looking forward to this weekend, when I get to see Dootie (and his newly healed piggy toe) for the first time since August 12th! And Karen! :)

Later kids,

MOM

Sonny Says: Goats are waaaayyy cooler than roosters. And cleaner too! And we're never up before 7.

BREATHE ON ME NOW
KATHRYN SCOTT

WHEN MY SOUL HAS CRIED ITS TEARS
AND MY HEART BEGINS TO FAINT
WILL YOU DRAW NEAR WILL YOU MEET WITH ME
WHEN MY DAYS ARE FILLED WITH LONGING
AND MY SPIRIT GROANS AND WAITS
WILL YOU DRAW NEAR WILL YOU MEET WITH ME
I'M CALLING AND WAITING YOUR PRESENCE LORD IS LIFE TO ME

BREATHE ON ME NOW AS I BOW DOWN
I'M DESPERATE LORD FOR MORE OF YOU
COME SATISFY UNTIL I AM EVEN MORE IN NEED OF YOU

WHEN MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN AND MY HOPE BEGINS TO FADE
WILL YOU DRAW NEAR WILL YOU MEET WITH ME
WHEN MY DAYS ARE FILLED WITH SEARCHING AND MY STRENGTH HAS GIVEN WAY
WILL YOU DRAW NEAR WILL YOU MEET WITH ME

CCLI# 61976
Copyright 2003 Vertical Worship Songs