Life in Nebraska ....

I just read the book today called The Giver  by Lois Lowry.  Did you ever read it?  It was about a community created that wanted calm and predictability.   In the process they eliminated color, pleasure, pain and choice.  And more of course.  And if you didn't fit the standard you were released to Elsewhere.  (Killed).   It sounds like a silly choice of reading, I know.  But it makes one think.   I've been kind of not really liking the color in my life lately.  But without the color what do we have?  Can one have joy without sorrow?  Pleasure without first knowing pain?  Choices?  We don't choose bad things.  But would we know good without the bad?  Love.  What would that even be if we didn't have choice and pain and feeling.  The thing of it is, is that God created us as beings to bring Him glory. By choice.  And He draws us with Love.   God is a God with intri...

Just peeking out of my shell.  Hi.  I have some thoughts on fear.  And panic attacks. And health.   I won't pretend I know it all.  I don't.  I think we all know fears and we all have out own vice or coping skill.  Here are mine.  If all you have is a fear then that's all you have.  If there's no medical cause, or firm proof that this thing is real then all it is, is fear.   If your fears take you to the point of panic attacks,  bad health, staying in, and  darkness they're not from God.   Sometimes the thing you fear is real.  Those are the times you bring them to your ultimate Helper and choose.  You choose to do the moment and wait. Or you choose to keep putting it into His hands by tangible means, like praying, or going to the Psalms and praying them, or singing hymns while you cry, or  going out and finding someone to help and love on.  About the fears that aren't from God.  ...

Last weekend Matt and I celebrated our 40th birthdays.  Combined, we have 80 years of experience.  And wisdom.   Haha!    Watch out world!   Jk. To celebrate our birthdays we had overnight sitters and  a romantic bed and breakfast reserved.  And out to eat at the Brazilian Grill.   Every one of those places were very over rated and over priced.  And I woke up Saturday morning with a nasty head virus.   So we came home and I concluded that 40 can only get better from here.  A few facts:.   An older person has time to give things time.   I was talking to an older wiser person the other day and they said give it time.  And I realized they knew from experience that time is important.  But I wanted to look at them cross eyed and explain how we don't have time.  But Im pretty sure they're right.  They  have time to give life time.  I'm going to be that way w...

My brain is mush today.  The things mushing around:   God was mentioned and prayed to during the inauguration.  Bible was  read out loud over media all over the world during the inauguration.  As the Obamas left office and the Trumps took their place it was done with so much dignity and formality and grace.  Does that happen in any other country across the world?  A man who led the United States for 8 years and felt strongly about how he was leading, was big enough to turn over his presidency with dignity.  That's impressive to me.  And a man who has no government experience took office and he was rather arrogant in his mannerisms and actions but took on the office with dignity and seriousness.  This is good.  I especially enjoyed Mr. Grahams benedictions.  He left no room for other gods.  He read the passage of One God.  And he spoke of JESUS is our salvation.  This was so good and to me it was awesome.  Ou...

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing{is or ever}shall be impossible.   I woke up this morning at five when Matt was leaving for Lincoln.  We're in an ice storm here and he was off to ice slice.   I was worried about his drive to Lincoln even if it was a short half hour drive.  The verse took care of that worry. I found myself thanking God this morning that the kid only puked once.  And that Matt got to be home with us till five am.  And that I had electricity.  These are physical things to be thankful for. But God still didn't make those little situations impossible. When there's been a series of unfortunate events, God says  it's not impossible for Him.  When things seem likely to never change or improve.  That verse says different. I don't know what your dark is but this verse is for you too.    Rest.   May your Monday be good.   God's got it.  (Don't we all need to be reminded now ...

We had some fun encouraging supper guests the other evening.  They were so kind to let me take a picture!  My morning view to go along with my coffee.   My evening view that depresses me about every evening.  Always supper dishes .  But this supper was the most delicious pile of carbs anywhere!  And salad of course!  He's enjoying his learning to read. School days after Christmas vacation can be hard!  But we're getting more use to it again!  One morning he'd been banging on the piano.  And then it fell silent. I found him here.  He told me this long story about how he hadn't slept and how one leg or another had been hurting.  He's been playing hockey a lot..... A pizza supper we all  made together.   It was good!  Just trying to get through those lectures..... A new toy... a pour over ... If you could live the life you dream of wha...

It's wonderfully quiet in the house. The wood stove is doing its magic.  It's white outside with a skiff of snow and -4°.   My man is home again after a night out pushing snow.   A few spots in the house are cleaned and comfortable.   Tomorrow we celebrate Jesus's birth with the Burkey clan.        We live in a good time.  Right now is my chance to commit to new beginnings.   A fresh new year to be okay with mistakes in others and myself.  A year to give each other room to grow and fall and get up. A year to love on others and forgive.  A year to show others God's mercy through my own fragile hands and heart.   A year to glorify God.  A little more of Jesus and a lot less of me.    What are your fresh new starts gonna be?