Speechless

flikr, clgregor

So here's my dilemma.

I had a wonderful class of college students last semester. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we all looked forward to being together. It was a special group indeed.

One of those students is graduating on Sunday. I found a beautiful, manly card at the Christian bookstore ($2.79! I hate spending money on cards) and I wrote some sappy God stuff that just sounds dorky, and now I have to go buy another manly and beautiful card to send to him.

So, do tell. What words of wisdom would you have appreciated from a believing professor when you were in college -- and let's say you weren't quite a believer yet but were open to God-talk?

All I can think of is "Seek God". But that would be kind of cold, you know, just writing two words followed by my name.

Alright. You may start. Eyes on your own computer. When you are finished, hit "submit" and go enjoy your day.

Time

Here I am at 18. Ready to set out for college. I ended up at

"Harvard on the Hocking" (Ohio University).

I loved every single minute in this special and magical town. I sang in the community choir, I joined a sorority, I did public relations work for the School of Dance, I studied a lot, I changed my major, I laughed, I stayed for grad school, I met my husband.

This past weekend I revisited this place and caught up with sorority sisters I hadn't seen for 22 years. Most of our sentences began with the words "remember when..." I received my 25 year sorority pin. (Whoa) I visited my freshman dorm room. I took a picture of the phone booth (now bolted shut) where I used to call my parents before our telephone was hooked up in our room (and cry when I heard their voices say "hello" because even though I loved college...I loved them more).

Life moves fast.

Walking the brick walkways of my college town, the spring breeze blowing through my hair, old friends beside me, I turned my chin upwards and smiled.

Thank you, God, for the places, the people, the memories....

My life.

Trust and Obey

*new mirrors from Marshall's

I believe in God. And I will tell you His ways are always best.

Sometimes (too often) I choose my own way.

But today I chose His...which didn't make human sense...but I was tired of the nudging.

I've had a student this semester who has stretched me, both in my teaching and in my spirit. I hadn't planned on killing pride in my heart (again) this semester, but alas, I have been busy doing just that. I hate when I think I've mastered something only to have it rear its ugly head yet again. Anyway, I am glad to be finishing up this course, mostly because I am weary of this student (who, I am sure, is weary of me, too) and the refining process of my spirit.

l

Earlier in the semester, out of the blue, I felt God directing me to pray for his salvation. I don't know if he knows Jesus or not, but I prayed. More recently the nudges in my spirit started...

"Give Him a copy of The Shack. "

I pretty much ignored the nudges. (Why hello, Pride, how are you today?)

This morning, the last day I would see him (probably forever),

I got another nudge. "Give him The Shack."

But, Lord, he has not been kind to me. He has been disrespectful.

I do not want to give him one of my books.

God said to my spirit that He knew all that. And I think He still wanted him to have the book. (Or maybe He just wanted ME to learn a lesson. Perhaps the book had nothing to do with anything!) Swell.

So I called him up before class started. I handed him his final paper and grade, told him he could stay for the review session if he chose, but there was no reason he needed to review for an exam he wouldn't be taking. He asked if it would hurt my feelings if he left.

HUH? Hurt my feelings? No, no. Not at all.

And then I handed him a copy of The Shack and said "I think you'll like this."

He was puzzled. He asked if he had to give it back. I assured him it was a gift from me to him. Consider it a graduation gift, I said.

And then he apologized to me.

Apologized. To me. For being a "nuisance" all semester.

I smiled and told him I appreciated his apology. He smiled back.

I was smiling at my student, of course. A genuine smile.

But I was also smiling at God.

He can be pretty bossy. Especially when I pout.

But He's always right.

It is a wonderful life with God. Even though sometimes it's hard.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

CLEAN

We hosted my husband's new boss and his wife, from Seattle, Friday evening for dinner.

My entire house was clean.

And I wanted all my friends and family and neighbors and bloggy friends and strangers to come visit.

But it's like a good hair day...no one sees your hair -- or your house -- on those days.

But that's alright. Having company is always good for a home.

And good for the homemaker, too.

I function better when my house is CLEAN. How 'bout you?

Timeless Treasures

Is it any wonder I have relieved, many years ago, my husband of buying me birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or Mother's Day gifts? He knows that around these holidays, he simply needs to ask "have I gotten your present yet?"

How in the world would the poor man know that something like these knobs from Anthropologie would make me go weak in the knees?

I mean, I couldn't have even told him what or where to buy because I've been looking for two knobs for months (oh, yes, my mental list of wants is odd) knowing that when I found "the ones" I would just know.

Happy (early) Mother's Day to me.

Sweet relief for my husband.

Flying Away

Flickr, Sandy Hook

My friend is moving. Yep, the same friend I could wave to from my back porch if she was on her deck. My wonderful, decorating-diva, warm, loving friend. Nichole.

I'm happy for her, really I am. And I'm so thankful that God introduced us last year via a tennis ball (used as a hockey puck) whacking a hole in their garage siding. And I'm thrilled she's only moving 5 minutes away. I mean, come now, why should I be sad? Lots of great things are happening in her life! I can help decorate a big new house!

But I am sad. Because back-door-neighbors-who-become-friends are the best. There's a comfortable, "we're family" type of feeling every time there's a knock on the back door. And there's security in simply knowing your friend is close by when you see the glow of her kitchen light break through night's darkness. We watch each others' backs...literally.

I hate goodbyes. Even when they're not really goodbyes at all. I'm a silly bird, I know. My friend and her family have outgrown their nest and she's beginning to feather a new one. I'm sure I'll be singing again soon. But for now, this bird is singing the blues.

Risen Indeed!

Easter Blessings

xoxo

Cathy

With a loud cry,

Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And then the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw

how he died, he said,

"Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Mark 15:37-40

Passover

I have been to one Bar Mitzvah in my life. Our two oldest children have been to ten. I have tried Matza while standing on the sidelines of a soccer game. Jewish high holidays mean days off from school. One of my dearest friends now lives in Israel.

Last night, our Jewish friends and neighbors could be seen walking to and from the synagogue, dressed in black with heads covered.

We live in a neighborhood with a large Jewish population.

It is Passover.

I am inspired by their walks to and from the synagogue -- not just on holidays like Passover, but every Saturday. Little girls in dresses and hats and little boys wearing yamikas and prayer beads following their parents as they walk to services. Week after week...sun, rain, snow.

But today, I find myself thinking about Passover 2000 years ago when the Messiah, that our Jewish friends are still waiting for, was preparing to eat a last meal with his closest friends. While His people were walking briskly to and from the temple, He was trying to prepare His friends, as best he could, for what was to come.

This year, He would be the lamb that was slain. But so caught up in their holy plans...shopping, cooking, cleaning clothes, going through the religious motions?...they did not notice.

May it not be so with me this Passover.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Luke 22:7. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said "Look, the Lamb of God!" John 1:36

In the story of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves, with the tenth plague being the killing of firstborn sons. The Hebrews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover".When Pharaoh freed the Hebrews, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is also called חַג הַמַּצּוֹת (Ḥag haMaẓot), "The Festival of the Unleavened Bread". Matza (unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday. This bread that is flat and unrisen is called Matzo. (Wikipedia)

Clothe Yourselves

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

But on the outside? These t-shirts ROCK.

I read about the women who started Wild Olive on someone's blog and after one look at their shirts, I knew I'd be ordering a few (my "Transform Your Mind" is on back-order).

I've mentally designed hundreds of hip, Christian t-shirts and if my designs ever made it to production? They would look like Wild Olive's!

(Oh, how my brain thanks them.)

Wild Olive, I love you!

Do you make hip Easter dresses and uber-cool bonnets?

*Our daughter took these photos for me last week when I intended to write this post. When I went over to their site this morning I discovered that by writing this post (and telling them) I'm now entered into a drawing for some free shirts. That was a nice surprise since I planned on writing about my new t-shirts just because I love them! You can visit these great ladies by clicking the cute "God is Good" button on my sidebar.

Random 22

22 Random Things About Me...

I was born on the same day (22) as my sister, and same day and year as my husband.

Every spring, when I was a child I picked the neighbor's daffodils (!) and hillside violets for my mom.

I love Apple Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream.

I play the piano.

I am horribly impatient when helping my children with homework.

I have loved spending time with my parents my whole life.

People think I look like this picture of my grandmother.

I have never been unloved.

I wish my Mom were still alive.

I like silence in the morning.

I love to laugh.

I like to make others laugh more.

Marrying my husband was the best decision I have ever made.

I love the smell of a campfire.

Jesus is my Lord.

I can be an awful Disciple.

I am blessed with beautiful and positive friends.

My closest friends love Jesus.

I am a germophobe.

I experienced a touch of post-partum depression after our first child was born.

I lived in Alexandria, Va for 2 years.

I love the sky.