Sane, Simple, Sacred: Whatever "Normal" Is

Whatever "Normal" Is

I've been gone.

A computer crash and my husband's final sermon & retirement celebration last week

were followed by a mini-vacation.

We crossed the Mississippi River

to gather with our three children and their families....

including our eleven grandchildren.

The time together was short,

but we packed in a visit to a great zoo (St. Louis) on a VERY hot day,

games (Bedtime Bingo, Bible Outburst, Racko),

and a lot of swimming.

My favorite photos? These two....


Cousins' Connections


Zoo Wonders

I have my computer again, but everything needs to be reinstalled.

Few processes appear the same.

It might be awhile until I'm back to normal!

(Whatever "normal" is.)

12 comments:

Breathing In GraceJuly 30, 2015 at 7:15 AM
I've been checking in to see if you've posted anything....glad you're getting back to "normal". Seems that changes for a lot of us from day to day. ;-) Your grandchildren....simply beautiful little souls! There is absolutely nothing like those blessings! HOPE you have a great day!
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BookieJuly 30, 2015 at 8:23 AM
Have missed you...glad your back...though sounds like you have had some meaningful days this summer. Does hubby have an special retirement plans?
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elizabethJuly 30, 2015 at 9:51 AM
Congratulations on your husband's retirement! What a big life event! What a blessing to celebrate with your family.
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Terra July 30, 2015 at 12:27 PM
I love retirement and that is great news about your husband retiring. Your grandkids are gorgeous.
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Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage BlogJuly 30, 2015 at 10:27 PM
Ah, retirement! I didn't realize that was happening. It's a big step and will be a change for him, and you. Glad you got to spend time with your family.

How are your mother and dad doing?

Deanna
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AnonymousJuly 31, 2015 at 5:36 AM
It is a big step--and he is already filling up the time :)
Mother and Dad are "about the same". I went over yesterday (Thursday) morning. Mother might have been sedated (?) She didn't seem to perk up at the sight of me as she usually does (at least she usually shows some sign of recognition.....).
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Nellie's Cozy PlaceJuly 31, 2015 at 6:32 PM
Hi Rebecca,
Have been wondering about you..............and was thinking about popping over to say are
you okay, then saw you had posted............lol

Did not hear that your hubby was retiring....must have missed that post. How wonderful.....
That was nice you were able to go visit all your children and grandchildren. Looks like yall
had a great time. Wow, you have 11 grandchildren....that is a lot to keep up with...I have
trouble just keeping up with one............lol

Congratulations to your hubby, and hope yall have a really fun time enjoying some special
times.............

Blessings, Nellie
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MoAugust 9, 2015 at 5:20 PM
Yes. Whatever normal, is......
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"We simplify, not just to be less busy, even though we may be right to pursue that. Rather, we simplify to remove distractions from our pursuit of Christ. We prune activities from our lives, not only to get organized, but also that our devotion to Christ and service for His kingdom will be more fruitful. We simplify, not merely to save time, but to eliminate hindrances to the time we devote to knowing Christ. All the reasons we simplify should eventually lead us to Jesus Christ!" (Donald S. Whitney)

Dedicated to my sister-in-law, Beth--a TRUE home manager....

"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him." --Lydia Sherman

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry,
and see a fine picture every day of his life,
in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Contentment makes poor men rich.

-Benjamin Franklin

"What I am gradually discovering is that in the writing I come in touch with the Spirit of God." ~ Nouwen

~~"Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting."~~Edmund Burke

C.S. Lewis: "To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in trusting a person if you wouldn't take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him."

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony." William Henry Channing

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Apostle Paul: "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

"It's a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand. It stops us from taking anything for granted. It has also taught me alot about living in the immediate moment. I am somehow managing to live one day, one hour at a time." Madeleine L'Engle

FIVE CERTAINTIES
WITH WHICH TO
START YOUR DAY

God holds you. Each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19 NLT
God sustains you. THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. Psalm 23:1 AMP
God covers you. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust. Psalm 91:4 AMP
God pours His love upon you. Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me. Psalm 42:8 NLT
God will not fail you. The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! Lamentations 3:22 NLT

THE BLOGGER'S PRAYER Lord, help me to learn to spell without spellcheck, manage to visit all that visit me, and post regularly - all in 5 minutes a day, so that I can clean house and take care of my family. Help me to not look at every occurrence in my life as a blog post, and to quit taking pictures of weird things to share as well. Please Lord, help me to stop talking about my blog friends as though they are next door neighbors or someone I have known all of my life. And help me, dear Lord, to think of something witty and wise to post tomorrow.
Love, The Dust Bunny Hostage

Sane, Simple, Sacred

Mercy

Whatever "Normal" Is

12 comments:

Writing a Song a Week #3