13 Hours of Rain

I've been feeling a bit self-conscious. As I observe women flaunting the current fashion trends, I realize I may be going out of style. Truthfully, I find it difficult to keep up with the newest sensations. Extra money to spend on being "in vogue" is a low priority for our household. However, in some areas, I honesty have no desire to be chic or modern. Here is my list: Chunky Brown Sunglasses The sunglasses from the early 70's are back. You know the ones I'm talking about. Big, gogglish, usually brown, and often perched on the top of a woman's head like a hairband. I don't own one. I don't care to. Why? Because this "wearer of glasses" would have to purchase contacts to participate in the current sunglasses craze. Contacts and I don't get along. Believe me, I've tried. Three times. I guess I could invest in some bug-eyed prescription sunglasses? No, not worth the money. The trend will probably disappear in a few years, I hope. Skinny...

...for all my proud, self-righteous blogging moments:

One of my husband's frequently used Hindi words is "undaz" (pronounced un-THE-az), which is best translated as "estimate" or "approximate". He learned the word while he was listening to a conversation between my sister and I. From what I recall, I was recounting a cooking experience and I remarked, "You know, I'm such an 'undaz' girl." My sister nodded in understanding while my husband looked puzzled. "What does undaz mean?" he queried. I chuckled and realized I had slipped a Hindi word into an English sentence without a second thought. My cooking experiences tend to be undaz moments (unlike times of baking where I meticulously follow a recipe to ensure success). In honor of such moments, I will share one of my favorites: Undaz Soup! The absent of specific quantities is intentional. Ingredients leftover roasted chicken, including bones 3 - 5 peeled garlic cloves whole peppercorns bay leaf coarsely chopped onion (or gre...

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment . But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body , but that its parts should have equal concern for each other . If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:22-27, italics added) Several weeks ago I went for a long overdue massage. My therapist asked, "What side do you carry your daughter on?" "My left side," I answered. "I can tell," she replied, "That side is much more tense in comparison to your right side. You probably carry he...

This YouTube video is dedicated to all my Star Trek: The Next Generation friends out there! Enjoy a good laugh. "Believing oneself to be perfect is often the sign of a delusional mind." ~ Data (First Contact)

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:18-19) "Are you okay?" I asked my husband as I paused my night time reading routine. Usually my husband is enjoying one of the many pieces of literature he has on the go at the same time. This evening he was just lying there, with his arms folded across his chest. "I guess I am having a 'Rain' moment," he chuckled. "A 'Rain' moment," I smiled. "What are you thinking about?" "Humans. All we ever want to do is think about ourselves and how we can make our lives easier," he mused. "Here I am wondering how it would be nice if I was told tomorrow that they made a mistake, there actually is an opening at my school next year, and my position isn't redundant. That would make it easier for me when September rolls around......

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. (James 1:26-27) "Tell me again - why we go to church," my husband pined as we drove home from service. "We go for others," I replied. "It doesn't seem like we go for ourselves anymore. We go so you can encourage [our friends]. We go so I can listen to [a single mom] share about her struggles with her son." "I know..." he responded, "I want [our friends] to know there is someone who understands all the political crap they are going through. If it wasn't for that, I'd stay home and study my Strong's Concordance." I am becoming more and more disillusioned with organized religion. Frustration bubbles to the surface when our rituals become mindless motions of...

A cloud of uncertainty invades The sunny skies of my soul. The path ahead dims. I only view the now, The patch of dirt beneath my feet. I pause from my previous confident stride, Wondering As I aimlessly kick loose pebbles below. Where to go? What to do? How do we get there ? Voices compete for my attention: Good voices, well intentioned voices. I am afraid, Scared of making a mistake on the road ahead. I do not know whose voice to heed. The clouds grow darker, threatening to rain. I proceed with caution, what else can I do? I peer up at the sky, trying to find a glimpse of God's rays. Nothing seems forthcoming. Thus, I wait... Though tears fall from the firmament above. I hope for a new path to be revealed As I take small steps of faith.