Theoretical question here:

If a mother…a hypothetical mother…were to dispense whipped cream directly out of the Reddi Wip can and into her theoretical baby’s mouth, hypothetically speaking, how bad would this theoretical mother be and would you want to see pictures?

I’m asking for a theoretical friend.

Just in case you’re wondering…

A breakfast burrito with salsa and sour cream with a Diet Mt Dew and Froot Loop chasers….not a good idea for a possibly ulcered stomach. Just so you know.

This is me being all sad and pathetic. My friend is gone.

See my sad face?

Yep. Amy and the kids are back in Missouri. They are still on the road. They have a few hours left. I’m so sad that they are gone, but I enjoyed their visit so much. It’s so good to be with my best friend. The distance between us, though, is harsh. This time is a little harder to say goodbye, because I don’t know when I’ll get to see her again. That stinks. Really, really.

We had a great time, though. We spent most of the time just being together. We went to church a couple of times, had Thanksgiving dinner with my family at my Aunt Kim’s house, took the kids to the park, left all the kids with my mom and went hiking and out for pizza (that rocked!), watched a movie, and had an ice cream party. It was fun. It was the kind of stuff I would do with a best friend all the time, if I had one in the same city state timezone as me. We tried to fit in as much fun stuff as possible and accomplish a little schoolwork, too. Unfortunately, we didn’t get nearly enough schoolwork done.

So, here I am, best friendless, and working on a research paper that is due on Friday. When I finish this one, I have another research paper due on next Thursday. When I finish that one, I have a psychology paper due on the tenth. While I’m not working on those, I have some reading to do, as well as studying for two major exams. Yep. It’s looking kind of grim. If I can just make it till the tenth, I’ll be through with this semester!

Once the semester is over, I have big plans. Mostly, they involve reading. Reading for pure enjoyment. Reading things that I actually want to read. I’m in the middle of The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis right now, and I’ve also started another one that I need to finish soon. I love to read. I really do. I can’t wait to get into the huge stack of books that is waiting on me. Also, besides all the reading, there is some major cleaning and organizing to be done. Also, some decorating. Chris brought it to my attention the other day that there is not one single framed photo of Owen in our entire house. Not because I don’t love him, but because I have such little interest in interior decorating that I have not framed a picture nor rearranged a piece of furniture since Owen has been born. This house needs help. Especially if it is going to be a suitable destination for Amy, Joy, and Aimee to come visit (wink, wink).

Also, I have some tests that I have to have done. I went to the doctor today, and he thinks I have an ulcer. Ick. I have to have an ultrasound and an upper endoscopy (where they stick a scope down my throat to look at my stomach), but I’m not sure when they’ll be yet. In the meantime, he gave me some meds to help me out.

An ulcer…hmmm. Who woulda thunk it?

I am so psyched! Amy is coming today!!

Amy and her kids are coming to spend Thanksgiving with me and my family, and she’s coming today! I’m so excited it makes me want to jump up and down or do a little dance or something.

It’s three a.m. I’m still awake. I’m doing research for a Sociology paper, laundry, and, obviously, I’m a bit distracted. It’s hard to focus on sociology at three in the morning. I must do it, though. I also have a research paper on Hamlet for Comp II, a paper for Psychology, an exam in Psychology, and an extra credit assignment for Sociology. Big sigh. I am ready for this semester to be over already.

However, Amy’s coming very soon, and that makes me really, really happy!

My dad jokingly told me the other day to call him when I “announced my call”. He was teasing me about some changes in my life recently. I laughed at him. I thought of it tonight, though, because this post is about my call. Mine and yours.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. I Peter 2:21

Christ has called us to follow in his steps. I can hear him calling. I’m answering, “Yes!”

Over the last several months, I have felt Him prompting me to take certain steps. At times, I was scared. I was afraid to trust Him. What if he asked something hard of me? What if he led me somewhere painful? The call was loud, though, and ever present. The call to “come and follow Me”.

The first step was a step of faith. A faith to trust Him. To go where He wanted me. I had to quit asking “what if”, but answer “even if”. Even if He asks me to do something hard. Even if He leads me somewhere painful. He suffered for me. He bought my freedom and my very soul with His blood. How could I answer anything except, “Yes, Lord. I will follow you.” The step of faith was a decision. A decision to say “even if” and take the first step in obedience and in the knowledge that He wants good for me. His way is best.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way; Psalm 37:23

I’ve taken several major steps the past few months. A step away from my chains and into His arms. A step past the wall of unforgiveness I had built. A step out of my comfortable box and into the unknown. Some of the steps were hard, but I had to do it. I had seen with a new vision that His way is good. He has a plan. He has a path laid before me.

The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

There have been times when I had planned in my heart what I thought should happen. What I thought I should do to get to where I wanted to go. However, through His Word or through a sermon or through an impression He has laid on my heart, I’ve seen that he had a different step for me to take. At times, it may have been a little scary. Right now, I am in a transition time in my life. I don’t know where His path is leading me. I don’t know what He has in store. I have to trust that He has a plan, and I know it’s going to be good. I know that He orders my steps.

As I drove home from taking Kyra to school yesterday, I was having my time of prayer, and it was good. As I prayed, I was praying about the changes in my life, and asking for direction and guidance. I asked him to hold my right hand, and show me where to step. I asked him to make my path straight. I realized, as I prayed, that I often want him to show me the whole path. I want to see where I’m going before I start walking. That’s not always how it works, though. Often, He just shows me the next step. He shows me one step, and I have to take it and trust that He will then show me the next one. He’s been faithful so far. I can’t help but believe He will continue to be faithful, and He will continue to order my steps.

A lot of people are worried about me right now. They care for me, and some of the changes in my life are bothering them. I wish I could comfort their hearts. I wish they could see, as I can, that my steps have been ordered. So, friends, help me pray.

Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Psalm 119:133

Pray that God will fulfill this verse in my life. I know that He has promised to guide my steps and keep them steady. Even if He asks me to step into unknown territory…even if He asks me to go somewhere that scares me…even if, I am determined to follow.

He’s called me to follow in His steps. With His help, that’s what I intend to do.
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Now playing: Bebo Norman – Yes I Will
via FoxyTunes

A few days ago, I said I’d be back with posts later, because, at the time, my current circumstances had sapped my desire to write. Well, the tide has turned, my friends, and I am overflowing with things to write about. I have so much to say. My problem…I can’t quite organize my thoughts. My thoughts for one blog post have turned into three posts and a subject for a sociology research paper. I’m just overwhelmed with excitement. I serve an amazing God!!

God is so good. He’s been so good to me. He IS so good to me. Every day. Every day he is good.

I’m going to try to outline my thoughts in some semblance of order so I can makes sense of all of this…this…joy? I think so! I think it’s joy.

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Now playing: Casting Crowns – Every Man
via FoxyTunes

Snippet’s of Kyra’s side of a phone conversation with Jeremiah…

“My mom…is talking to your mom…there is NO WAY she’s going to let me back on the computer.”

“Jeremiah….I love you. Okay. You can say what you were going to say now.”

“Crazy!! That hurts my heart.”

To herself, “Why is Jeremiah talking so much?”

“Jere- miah!” <giggle giggle>

“Jeremiah, do you know that you are the best friend I’ve ever had?”

“Ohhh…I’m having a bad attitude with my mom right now.”

Well, I’m not dead at least.

Unfortunately, I am buried. Buried in homework. So is Chris. We are buried in homework.

Also…also we have three kids whose parents are buried in homework. So, they run around looking for a hand sticking out from under a textbook to unwrap a pop tart, and they wear the same shirt more than one day in a row.

Yes, this is an SOS. Send babysitting and casseroles.

The semester will be over soon, and then…then, my friends…I will be a blogger again.

I promise.

Life has been crazy lately, even beyond being swamped with schoolwork. Our family is going through a transition time right now that is kind of difficult. It seems to have sapped my creative juices for a bit. I’ll be posting again soon. Real soon.

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Now playing: Jeremy Camp – Innocence
via FoxyTunes