Count your blessings

count them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God has done.

Great words, that's for sure. I've been fairly grumpy this past month and it's fair to say that is because I am not counting my blessings. I went to the Dr. last week and told her, "I feel like a spoiled brat, but really, the biggest stress in my life is getting my kitchen in my average house redone." Man, objectively speaking, I look like an ungrateful wretch.

Let's see:
I have a wonderful husband. I can talk to him about everything. I trust him implicitly and completely and have never had cause to worry about his integrity or trustworthiness. He is both a handsome and kind man who is as intolerant of socialism as I am. He is as stable as anyone could ever be and he loves his children more than any other Dad. He has never wavered with regards to homeschooling, living a decent life and having as many children as the Lord would send. I love him completely and totally and am exceedingly grateful for the almost 14 years we have had together. We have never attended a funeral together. I attended a funeral for a friend's baby and he attended a funeral with our oldest son for a 91 yo aunt.

I have 2 sons and 6 daughters ranging in ages from 13-8 months. I have never experienced a miscarriage, and other then EO's extended stay in the hospital for IV antibiotics, no other child has ever been admitted to the hospital. We've had a few ear infections , too many barfing viruses, a few strep throats and a broken collarbone along the way but never anything even remotely close to life-threatening.

All the above children are also pretty intelligent. A couple of them don't enjoy reading, but they are excellent in math, and I've been told that not everyone loves reading . LOL They are kind-hearted (for the most part) and respectful (for the most part) and are embracing the idea that socialism is as wrong as we think. They are logical people and interesting to boot. I am a blessed woman indeed.

Financially, our home is paid for and we have assets in other places. We have money to save and invest as well as to eat, be clothed and to educate with. So...why am I in a funk? Because I'm not living in my dream house that is fully-paid for , and because I don't get to go on as many vacations as I'd like and because (oh, I sound like a broken record) I'm so weary of fools living in luxury.

Well, as I type this all out, I'm left with no choice but to be grateful, thankful and act accordingly. If anyone reads this, may I suggest you do the same.

Till later,
Lisa

Once again it's been a while since I posted...

why, because noone really reads this. There's too much to vent about that I come out angry.
Sunday after church I had a very nice conversation with a girl in our church, Ernestine. Despite the fact that she's most likely a Kerry voter (if at all), she was so kind and encouraging that when I got in our van, Dh asks me why I'm smiling. He says, It's quite a change from your usualy grumpy self. Oh, dear.....

Why can't I let things roll off of me? Why can't I turn the other cheek like others do? Why do I hate evil so much? Here's the little secret: I can handle non-Christians. It's the socialist Christians who are supposed to be on your side that are going to be the death of me. I once read an article (and I suppose I should come up with the link) about how you can't be a Christian and liberal. Seriously, I just have an incredibly difficult time with self-absorbed socialistic Christians who are mutilating their bodies to have no more children (while doing nothing else to prevent any other blessing like say...hmmm.....money) and sending their children to gun-point schools and are serving Jesus by going from conference to conference. I was trying to figure out what was missing from their life and I realized it's 2 things: servanthood and humility.

Here's a good one: I have a 23.5 yo sister who serves the Lord by going to conferences and mission trips around the world. (She once remarked to me that she thinks she would adopt children when she got married rather than endure morning sickness. My dh informed her that's called "Barfing for Jesus."Apparently since it's non-glamourous and doesn't involve raising support to travel over the world or staying in hotels and attending banquets with other members of the remnant, it's not actually serving Jesus to bring another life into the world. But, I digress.....)

Today, another sister, age 38.5 is 38 weeks pregnant with #4 (the other 3 are ages 4,3 and 17.5 months) and is moving today. Well.23.5 yo sister with a degree in government from ORU and is a waitress (server) at Chilis has the day off today. How is she spending it? One might think as a self-proclaimed Christian she would be offering her services to her sister (or the other sister, me, who is taking care of 8 children ages 9 and under while preparing supper for the moving crew). But, no.she wishes 38.5 yo sister "Happy Moving Day.", while she spends a day in the hood waiting for her illegal immigrants to clean her house and she has some *me* time.

Note to all you 20 something Christians who have traveled all over the world and attended more conferences than years of college and *still* are trying to find their place in this world: it's about serving. It's about doing for others and (whisper..) you might not always be noticed by men. But God sees and God will be faithful for you to receive your reward. Really. It's true. It's in the Bible. Note: A teacher is not above his students. Apparently these students believe they're above their teacher. I don't get it.

Well...I look forward to a new computer. I think it's time to enter the 21st century. Believe it or not, we still have Windows 98 and this software on blogger is meant for newer software. I will write more then. That's for sure.

We're having our kitchen redone. Someday I may actually log our adventures with Lowe's in my alter blog about Durham retail happenings. But, it is so painful. It's never a good sign when the company pays for new wallpaper. Groan.

As theInstall sales manager, Norm, said, "It's not like the peole redoing your kitchen were sitting in the front of the classroom." Help. I hate public education.

Have a good evening. Look outward and upward. It's better and more healthy than looking inward.