tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55287982011-08-18T10:25:03.853-07:00Small WondersOpening my eyes to the small wonders of this grace-drenched creation.Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.comBlogger3071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-63800181082480230072011-04-17T15:29:00.000-07:002011-04-17T15:47:56.499-07:00UNABASHED JOY Today I wonder if envy is always wrong. What if you envy someone for their joy in the Lord? What if you see in them such freedom and love for Christ in what they're doing, that you just can't help but desire that for yourself? Today I witnessed a beautiful young woman worship the Lord with such joyful passion, such assured freedom that I almost wept. I would've wept if I wasn't Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-44970349509287488802011-04-01T13:56:00.000-07:002011-04-01T14:52:14.171-07:00RUNNING IS CHEAPER THAN THERAPY A couple Saturdays ago I went out on a long run with my husband. We don't usually run together because he's a bit faster than I am. But I thought I'd take on the challenge. I like challenges and running has given me lots of opportunities to take on new ones. So we strike out on a hilly course as the temperature creeps near 70. I'm doing fine and am surprised to seeMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-47600775679281247382011-03-13T10:33:00.000-07:002011-03-13T11:19:47.955-07:00NOT TO USLast weekend was quite the spiritual mountaintop. As I was reciting Scripture while running those last couple miles with Grace, I felt like I could talk to anyone about Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit was so near and palpable. After I came home and came down from that mountaintop I entered back into my normal life. Homeschooling, errand-running, homemaking. I ran out of printerMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-13601770963183494472011-03-07T09:33:00.000-08:002011-03-07T09:55:17.299-08:00WHAT NOW?I'm finding that the buildup to a marathon and then the actual race is like a mountain top experience. Afterward there is this question of what to do now? Your life can get so focused on the training that when it's not there you're left with an empty space. It's tempting to fill it up quickly with more plans for more races. But that empty space is okay. It's okay to just let it be Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-43144030541389485872011-03-06T13:49:00.000-08:002011-03-06T14:51:18.640-08:00WHAT IS SUCCESS?I remember being in my freshman year at Northwestern University as a music major and the most important thing for me to figure out was where I ranked with the other clarinet players. Over the course of four years we had to play 12 auditions and we were placed in various ensembles based on our success in those auditions. For the majority of my life I've viewed success through theMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-39214369696618398352010-11-20T12:15:00.001-08:002010-11-20T12:32:39.897-08:00REFLECTIONS ON THE MARATHON - PT. 2Since I've started running in 2008 I've tried to get faster and stronger. For the most part I've hit my goals and my times have gone down in the 5K through the half marathon. When I took on the challenge of training for a marathon I knew it would be hard but as the training schedule wore on, I got stronger and faster still. I humbly admit that my head got a Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-60929304331939630672010-11-14T20:20:00.000-08:002010-11-14T20:25:29.221-08:00REFLECTIONS ON THE MARATHON, PT. 1Today, as I continued to recover from yesterday's first marathon I thought of those last two tenths of a mile, the most precious two tenths of running I've ever done. One guy in the crowd yelled out, "Hey number 12, you're a marathoner!!!" All the emotion that was bubbling just beneath the surface started to explode into choked back sobs. The gal who had Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-279592627922222692010-11-12T04:57:00.001-08:002010-11-14T12:33:38.708-08:00I AM A LAW UNTO MYSELFThis faith life is a journey. And along the journey the Lord has revealed obstacles to my growing into the life He has for me, the life He already won for me in His Son. Some obstacles are small and easily recognized. I repent and I receive forgiveness and it's done. Other obstacles are bigger. They are not easily named. But the Lord, in His gracious timing, and with His Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-79349445330112740762010-11-09T08:06:00.000-08:002010-11-09T08:11:00.392-08:001000 THANKS26. I have all my training done! Just time to rest.27. My second son writing a sweet message about Christ's birth in a card for a child that will get his Operation Christmas Child shoebox.28. A powerful demonstration of faithful giving at church.29. God continually bringing me back to the simple truth of abiding.30. Reading old Elisabeth Elliot newsletters.31. Anticipating new faith Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-60466251010082651152010-11-03T11:16:00.000-07:002010-11-03T11:38:27.264-07:00MARATHON TAPERINGTwo years ago I didn't even know what this was. Now I'm doing it. The last two to three weeks of a marathon training schedule is called a taper. This is where you reduce your mileage and let your body absorb and recover from all the hard training you've done over the past four months. Wow, four months of training. It started at the end of July and for the most part I didn't Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-30239944382166881882010-10-17T18:19:00.000-07:002010-10-17T18:24:18.649-07:001000 THANKS16. A great sermon this morning convicting me of a lot of things.17. The gift of conviction. The Lord wants better for me than to cherish sin.18. Friends sharing a meal in my home.19. An interested, aspiring and hard-working clarinet student. Hopefully one of many to come.20. A clean home.21. The most beautiful handbell/flute piece this morning in church.22. The opportunity to do Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-80070088770850758482010-10-16T17:28:00.000-07:002010-10-16T18:45:45.468-07:00ANATOMY OF A RACE - The Big Peach Fall Five-MilerIt's 5:30am. I didn't want to wake up this early. My alarm was set for 6 but I knew Tim would wake up earlier. It takes him longer to prepare and he always wants to get there early. I lay in bed trying to stay warm while also trying to visualize what I'll do in the race. The dog is crowding me so I finally decide to get up. Clothes have been Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-44624460879669498562010-09-26T12:52:00.000-07:002010-09-26T12:56:05.953-07:001000 THANKS11. Surviving my second 20 mile training run en route to our November 13th marathon.12. Being able to share running with my husband.13. Making some awesome brown sugar bacon last night.14. Coffee.15. The first real, sustained rainfall we've had in a long time resulting in a long awaited break in the constant 90 degree temps.Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-30241283067862383222010-09-13T09:13:00.000-07:002010-09-13T09:31:37.943-07:00MEMORIZING SCRIPTUREAbout a month ago I was listening to Janet Pope on Revive Our Hearts talk about memorizing Scripture. I've memorized individual verses before and even the book of Philippians when I was in college. I've forgotten Philippians over the years but have kept a lot of the verses in the back of my mind. This woman intrigued me though because she had memorized 14 books and many Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-20024647709548551982010-09-13T09:08:00.000-07:002010-09-13T09:13:16.028-07:001000 THANKS6. 60 degree weather to run 9 miles this morning.7. the freedom to homeschool.8. a pastor who never puts up a false front.9. the continuing conviction of the word of God.10. the movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness".Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-59579463194580010302010-08-17T12:10:00.000-07:002010-08-17T12:17:04.415-07:001000 THANKS1. The sword of Ps. 107:1.2. Laughter of children over nonsense words.3. Beginner violin squeaks (really!).4. A begging dog.5. Running in the misty, light rain.For all these things I give You thanks.Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-88199560961835285032010-08-17T11:25:00.000-07:002010-08-17T12:10:25.888-07:00GIVING THANKS WITHOUT FEARDo you ever act like God operates according to Murphy's Law? Of course, you would never admit that you believed that. But it's the bald truth that what we believe isn't always what we say we believe. If we look at our prayers and the patterns of our lives, we can find the truth.I know gratitude is lacking in my life. "...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-82860725300454501222010-08-14T17:11:00.000-07:002010-08-14T17:21:57.729-07:00 INSPIRATION A simpler life. A slower life. Filled with meaningful conversation with cherished friends. Time to linger over nature. Getting away from the busy-ness and doing real things like gardening, baking and long walks.Every time I open the Anne of Green Gables series I long for these things. This will be the fourth time journeying through this eight volume friend of mine, and I'm beginningMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-551071549250709952010-08-14T16:59:00.000-07:002010-08-14T17:11:22.847-07:00THE FIRST WEEK OF HOMESCHOOLWe have had a good first week. For some reason I haven't been as fearful this year as in previous years. I used to be so nervous and worried, but I think God has freed me slowly but surely (certainly not completely though) from bearing all these responsibilities on my frail shoulders. I have been more excited than in previous years and more patient realizing that I Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-39465263826849001122010-08-14T16:51:00.000-07:002010-08-14T16:59:32.169-07:00IT'S ONLY 7:50PM...and I'm so very tired. I said a while back in my post about marathon training that doing all those 10-12 milers leading up to marathon training should help me not feel so exhausted when I get into the actual training. Well, I obviously had never done marathon training before because..I'm exhausted!!Tim and I did 17.5 miles today. We were only supposed to do 16 but when you Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-32764795428492742602010-08-01T14:18:00.000-07:002010-08-01T14:42:42.365-07:00LISTENING FOR THE PEDAL...Over at A Holy Experience, Ann has been challenging us to listen. Personally, this is a difficult thing and something that is an example of a Romans 7 conflict that goes on within my soul. I am a naturally contemplative, melancholy person. One of my favorite book series is Anne of Green Gables. I've started reading through it again and I never tire of reading the Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-64367861416049714222010-07-28T08:23:00.000-07:002010-07-28T08:43:17.308-07:00 ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR APPROACHING...This year we'll be entering our eighth year of homeschooling. The oldest will be in 8th grade this year and I'm already thinking about record keeping and getting the appropriate credits come high school time. Wow, that has come fast.Last year was probably our toughest year homeschooling. We found out that two of our children have some identifiable learning Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-87792348377342520312010-07-27T13:04:00.000-07:002010-07-27T13:24:51.504-07:00MARATHON TRAINING...WHOA?! WHAT?!Some people who read this blog know that I started running about two and a half years ago as a challenge. If you've seen the book Do Hard Things for teenagers then there we go - this has been my hard thing. My husband started running soon after I did and it's become a shared hobby that's enriched our marriage a lot. My husband started talking about doing a Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-38068852870379620092010-07-27T12:40:00.000-07:002010-07-27T13:03:45.722-07:00CRAZY LOVE, THE LAST FEW CHAPTERSIt seems the same themes keep coming up in this book for me. I think it's very hard to get past the whole financial guilt trip trap if you're a suburban American reading this book. We've plowed this ground so many times in class that it's getting to be a broken record. Having money is not a sin. Loving money more than God is. But then Jesus compares a rich Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-90144143656608396522010-06-13T10:32:00.000-07:002010-06-13T11:01:45.781-07:00CRAZY LOVE, CHAPTER 3Chapter 3 of Crazy Love focuses on our relationship with God as Father. Chapter 3 helped me grow a little more in freedom; freedom from the Christian life as a to-do list. One thing he says really helped me - "Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-23564118898019431542010-06-13T10:09:00.000-07:002010-06-13T10:32:38.862-07:00WHO ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT?It's too easy to slack off sometimes either as a parent or a friend or a Christian. I guess it comes with having a sinful nature still. But it shouldn't be our status quo. Perseverance is a hard word. It is a very noble thing when you think about it, but when it gets down to it, you can't just think about persevering; you actually have to do it. This year I have Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-30053489301379765212010-05-30T10:36:00.000-07:002010-05-30T10:53:58.142-07:00CRAZY LOVE, CHAPTER 2The titles of Francis Chan's chapters just draw you in. This one's called, "you might not finish this chapter." It's all about living your life with the knowledge that you could die at any moment. Does that sound morbid to you? I don't think so. I think it gives the everyday moments of your life weight and forces you to really examine what you're doing. Chan challenges Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-71640300547963760592010-05-21T06:12:00.000-07:002010-05-21T06:27:00.264-07:00CRAZY LOVE, CHAPTER ONEOur Sunday School class has just started reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. This week the assignment was to read chapter one. In this first chapter Francis wants us to get back to the wonder of God. He encourages us to stop talking at God and instead take a good hard look at who He is. I have to admit that my devotional life has not been what I want it to be, and what Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-61918444942990993642010-04-18T12:07:00.000-07:002010-04-18T12:28:12.004-07:00LITTLE FOXESSong of Solomon 2:15 speaks of little foxes ruining the vineyards. This is how I feel about pride. It's the little, seemingly innocent considerations of self that can sneak in and lead me into prideful self-exaltation. Yesterday I broke my PR (personal record) for a 5K by almost two minutes. I was so excited I wanted to jump up and down. I had been trying to break 27 minutes in aMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-17090973949640267742010-02-13T14:05:00.000-08:002010-02-13T14:32:39.622-08:00T.R.My dad just lent me a biography of Teddy Roosevelt. It's not David McCullough's Mornings on Horseback. It's a large 500+ tome written by Nathan Miller. I'm up to the part where T.R. has just begun his political career as a New York assemblyman. The Roosevelt family was extremely impressive. T.R.'s father, nicknamed Thee, was a formidable figure in his son's life. The whole family was Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-83347700723116013112010-02-13T10:38:00.000-08:002010-02-13T11:28:32.207-08:00FACT, FAITH, THEN FEELINGMy eyes open and the first thing I think of is, "How do I feel?" I go throughout my day and more often than not, my mood is guided by how I feel. I even come to the Word like that. I approach the Lord and start sorting through my feelings. I've been reminded again lately of how backwards that is. I was reading Hannah Whitall Smith's A Christian's Secret to a Happy Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-73450250788572504822010-01-27T08:34:00.000-08:002010-01-27T08:50:08.906-08:00THE UNNOTICEABLE CREEPI've been thinking about the sensibilities of this world. What are they anyway? What are the moods and attitudes that dominate our culture and how have I adopted them? Just think about the way television is set up. Pictures flash before our eyes and change in seconds. Commercials are constantly grabbing at us to pay attention to this new product and that new technology.Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-38752765678823311212009-10-25T10:26:00.001-07:002009-11-18T10:34:49.457-08:00IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH?Playing my clarinet professionally is very different from playing in a volunteer, mostly amateur church orchestra, and God has taught me a whole lot about myself and Him through all of it. Professionally, if you make a mistake it could cost you a job. That's not the case in our church orchestra of course, but it's hard not to import a professional mindset into the sanctuary. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-28445271612751008172009-08-11T13:31:00.000-07:002009-08-11T13:47:48.016-07:00GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS HISI've been struggling a little emotionally and spiritually with these first couple days of school. It seems the enemy has come at me with the same old strategies. I'm going to mess the kids up. I'm not doing enough. Our kids won't know what they're supposed to know. Etc, etc, etc. So I've been sharpening the sword and lifting the shield of faith ruthlessly Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-74485364284779979022009-08-09T14:52:00.000-07:002009-08-09T14:52:00.647-07:00GOD, OUR EVERYTHINGFrom the hymn, "O Worship the King", comes this line -Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.That line hit me this morning. I'm glad, because not much was penetrating this distracted heart of mine this morning in worship. Some days are just like that. Had I not taken the time to prepare my heart beforehand? Probably, since I stayed up late the previous night and was Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-27231624215021450392009-06-07T18:55:00.000-07:002009-06-07T19:15:42.759-07:00MERCIFUL FOREKNOWLEDGEDeuteronomy 5:29 -God says, "Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!"Here is the desire of God for their genuine obedience and devotion to Him so that it might go well with them. God hears their words of commitment but knows the deceitfulness of their hearts.Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-45225561410421914722009-06-07T18:37:00.000-07:002009-06-07T18:54:22.938-07:00IT'S ALL CHRIST"We can never obligate God by our obedience or sacrificial service." Jerry BridgesAs if those things weren't due Him already. For, "To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it." Deuteronomy 10:14So, because of Christ, why get hung up on what our sins or service might earn us? Our sins have been washed away and God's wrath Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-31435122407910923112009-05-01T13:16:00.000-07:002009-05-01T13:16:00.611-07:00FOR MY MOMMy mom sent me an email the other day about how I haven't been posting on my blog. Yes, it's been pretty bleak here because I've spent most of my online time on Facebook. It's been neat to see how many other blogging friends of mine are on Facebook and it's been a neat way to keep in touch. But since my mother is not on Facebook (yet!) I decided to give her a post here on my blog. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-78109671903962710402009-02-22T18:44:00.001-08:002009-02-22T18:50:39.031-08:00DON'T WASTE YOUR FACEBOOK...If you're familiar with John Piper's ministry, Desiring God, you may have heard about a "sister" ministry of theirs called Don't Waste Your Life. Ever since I started on Facebook, I've been concerned about just wasting time on it. It's too easy to just surf around or play games. Just waste time. So I just wrote a note and posted it to my profile. If anyone comes Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-52002647246319918702009-02-19T13:00:00.000-08:002009-02-19T13:12:01.046-08:00BOTHERED BY GENESISI've been reading through Genesis since the beginning of the year. I'm sure it's been a popular thing to do lately. Every time I get to the beginning of the story of Abraham I start feeling a certain rankling in my soul. I cringe at his lies about Sarah being his sister. Then Isaac and Rebekah with Jacob and Esau. The scheming and favoritism. Jacob runs away and marries Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-72482828817016657942009-02-01T11:41:00.000-08:002009-02-01T13:05:58.016-08:00SURRENDERING MY REWARD"each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward." 1 Corinthians 3:13-14"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-75453385632315082792009-01-27T16:19:00.000-08:002009-01-27T16:43:07.637-08:00RUNNING...ONE YEAR LATERLast year at this time I asked myself a question - "I wonder what it would be like if I decided to get really fit?" A simple question doesn't seem like it would hold a lot of motivational power, but for me it did. I looked at it as kind of an experiment. I started out hating to run, especially on a treadmill. But I stuck with it and actually started to like it. I entered Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-66164107074277524832009-01-05T10:47:00.000-08:002009-01-05T11:01:43.667-08:00THANK YOU PETER REINHART!I've been making my own bread for almost five years I think. I started with Breadbecker's and I learned from watching my neighbor do it. Over the years I think I've had maybe 1 in 10 loaves come out the way I wanted them to. The dough was too sticky to knead and then they'd always fall after I put them in the often. I went to online forums and tried to fix my problems, Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-84838529226961990672009-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:002009-01-05T10:47:42.649-08:00ANATOMY OF THE FIRST DAY BACKYou would think it wouldn't have taken me years to figure this out. Every Monday and any day back to school after a break will always be rough. I tried to fight it and be strict but I've realized that I just need to accept it and roll with it. It is what it is and it's not a reflection on me. I think that's really what it's been about. However my day went, I saw Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-44275585527990012652008-12-22T19:16:00.000-08:002008-12-22T19:29:45.970-08:001/2 MARATHON? IN MARCH? YES!The plan was to do a lot of 5Ks and 10Ks in 2009 in preparation for the Disney 1/2 marathon in 2010. My husband has been very into this whole thing and I am very proud of him. But then we kept talking to a certain friend who is doing the ING 1/2 marathon in March and she has prevailed upon us to do the race. I have no illusions of any sort of fast time. No, no, Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-25523172402406335772008-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:002008-12-05T05:07:21.241-08:00DOES HE LOOK OLDER TO YOU?Today we are celebrating my oldest son's birthday two days early. He will be 12 on Sunday but since we have so many activities going on this weekend, we agreed to take a day off and let him enjoy his presents and have a friend sleep over. I am an observer of preteen and teenage boys right now. I think it's amazing how they can literally change overnight. One of my Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-618974682652697562008-12-05T04:40:00.000-08:002008-12-05T04:59:51.673-08:00 A NEW FAMILY TRADITION?Years ago, I started a short lived family tradition of trying to finish a really big puzzle between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We did several large Christmas themed puzzles and even had one of them framed but when table space became limited and we couldn't have a 1000 piece puzzle laying around with a frisky dog, that tradition kind of went away. I think we've foundMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-26520384838008711872008-11-11T16:17:00.000-08:002008-11-11T16:22:57.145-08:00OVERHEARD AT THE DINNER TABLELast night we had a pork chop casserole that wasn't my best culinary effort but was certainly edible. My second son really liked the potatoes and at the end of dinner he came over to me and laid his head on my shoulder. Cute...very cute. He then said this - "Mommy, I really like the potatoes. They are so romantic." Rolling on the floor laughing!!! That one was Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-45144181902323822522008-11-05T10:05:00.000-08:002008-11-05T10:12:13.098-08:00IT'S OVER...NOW WHAT?"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." Romans 13:1"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever he will." Proverbs 21:1"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16I think Randy Alcorn has said it Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-5143024840357507502008-10-11T15:13:00.000-07:002008-10-11T15:24:43.631-07:00MY TAKE ON ALL THE ECONOMIC CRAZINESS "The earth is the Lord's and all it contains; the world and those who dwell in it." Psalm 24:1Just think, there are millions of people in the world who have never heard of Henry Paulson, Barack Obama, John McCain, Fannie Mae, AIG, etc., etc. and they are doing fine. They may be farmers in rural China or nomads in Mongolia and they are probably dirt poor, Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-50439962434880676902008-10-11T15:10:00.000-07:002008-10-11T15:13:26.654-07:00JUST WONDERINGSome days I feel so energized, on top of things, and just generally able that I think, "Wow! Thanks God!" But then I remember that I've just had two cups of coffee. So is it the Holy Spirit, caffeine or both?Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-41262936939754294902008-10-03T18:51:00.000-07:002008-10-03T19:10:56.849-07:00A MOTHER IS A CONSTANT GARDENERWe've just finished reading Little Men by Louisa May Alcott. Her way with words is so playfully eloquent. I think her descriptive talents are just amazing. For example, Jo comments on an usually quiet lull in the home -"It is too good to last," said Mrs. Jo; for years of boy-culture had taught her that such lulls were usually followed by outbreaks of some sort, and Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-33684118143811813812008-10-03T18:41:00.001-07:002008-10-03T18:51:36.774-07:00STILL RUNNINGTwo weeks ago I ran my first 10K race. For those unfamiliar with the distance, that's 6.2 miles. When I started running in January I never thought I could do a 10K. This one was the Doug Kessler Lightning 10K in Sandy Springs, GA. The course was fairly easy with no big hills and my husband was sure I'd break an hour. I thought I could break an hour since my most recent 5K race Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-38420767268023001772008-10-01T19:08:00.000-07:002008-10-03T18:41:14.131-07:00BECAUSE I'M A HOMESCHOOLER...*There are library books all over the house.*My dining room isn't really a dining room.*My garage has a small garden growing in it for science class.*I've learned to talk to three people at once!*Every critter sighting in the yard is cause for excitement.Homeschooling is hard, but God is good and it's all worth it.Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-30376925050428835492008-08-06T11:02:00.000-07:002008-08-06T11:02:13.758-07:00A HOMESCHOOLING MOM'S PRAYERI've been fearful and anxious over the summer thinking about school. Specifically I've been afraid of having my son enter 6th grade. About a month ago I decided to fight the fear with gratitude. Throughout my time with the Lord this summer, He has placed specific desires in my heart for this coming school year. I have turned them into a prayer that I'd like to Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-24582566132342143392008-08-06T10:50:00.000-07:002008-08-06T10:50:08.232-07:00LISTEN FOR THE "SQUEAK" Not for the squeak of the mouse, but the squeak of the dishes as they're being wiped. In one of the Little House books, Laura describes the daily ritual of wiping the dishes. She comments on how much she enjoys listening to the squeak of the dishes as she wipes them dry on a summer evening. When I first read that some years ago, I paused and thought how quaint and old Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-6620622952429591032008-08-01T16:41:00.000-07:002008-08-01T16:41:00.525-07:00WHO IS THIS PERSON?Have you noticed the new picture on my sidebar? Pretty cool, huh? It's not a childhood photo of me though. I don't even know who it is. But it does perfectly capture the state of mind (no, I think soul is the better word) I've come to in the past six months or so. An enraptured sense of freedom and abandonment to God that I've never known. I'm not walking on "cloud nine" Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-91757763670707300542008-07-14T14:52:00.000-07:002008-07-14T14:52:00.678-07:00A GREAT DAY!We had a great time on Saturday racing for research. There were nine of us on Team Logan and we had t-shirts on that said, Legs for Logan. Logan and his whole family were there to cheer us on. I ran/walked with my son while my awesome husband broke his time goal by 2 minutes to run a 28 minute 5K. Hey! It's taken me six months to run a 30 minutes 5K. He's only trained for two Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-48498059701044768502008-07-09T11:02:00.000-07:002008-07-09T11:02:00.562-07:00COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY 5BAKE SALE FOR BRAINS!!!We are officially over our $200 goal for the Race for Research!!!!! However, I wanted to make a little more money so...we're having a bake sale today and tomorrow in my driveway. If you're in my area come on by and buy a cookie for brain tumor research!!Thanks!Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-40177776619636729352008-07-07T14:22:00.000-07:002008-07-07T14:22:00.679-07:00COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY 4GLORIFY GOD IN ALL YOU DO!I have always been a sort of sports junkie and now that I've started running I've been reading running magazines and getting to know the elite runners of the world. Ryan Hall is one of those elite runners and he is also a devout follower of Christ. Please go to this link to watch him run and give his testimony. It is simply beautiful. Ryan willMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-85741369264119477742008-07-03T13:12:00.000-07:002008-07-03T13:12:01.016-07:00COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY 3WHAT ARE YOUR LIMITATIONS?At the end of 2007 I realized I needed to change some things if I didn't want the scale to keep creeping up. I wasn't overweight but the scale was entering an area I had never seen before (except while I was pregnant). I didn't like it. The frustrating thing was I had been exercising 4-5 days a week for over a year. I knew I had to do something Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-27263690420565818632008-07-01T14:12:00.000-07:002008-07-01T14:12:00.560-07:00COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY 2SHOUT OUT TO MY HUSBAND!For the past six months I've been a little obnoxious about this new running habit. I've been hoping my husband would take up his favorite pasttime again and join me. On Sunday we were talking to Logan's mom and another friend and found out that some other people were going to be running in the race. I think that inspired my husband (or maybe made himMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-79113158654876000732008-07-01T14:07:00.000-07:002008-07-01T14:07:00.593-07:00COUNTDOWN TO RACE DAY Here's a precious picture of Logan (on the left) and my son Jonathan. This was taken last summer just days before Logan's first surgery. They were in the same Sunday School class last year and their teachers hosted a pool party for them at the end of the year. What a brave boy. I still can't believe he was there considering the major surgery that awaited him. His Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-43614792235176513622008-06-29T15:56:00.000-07:002008-06-29T15:56:01.322-07:00PLEASE HELP US RACE FOR RESEARCH!One cool thing about road races is that they are a great way to raise money for a good cause. On Saturday, July 12th, our family will be participating in the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation's 9th annual Race for Research. Last summer a dear family in our church received devastating news - their oldest son had a brain tumor. Logan underwent two surgeries and Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-63021674900688044302008-06-14T22:38:00.000-07:002008-06-14T22:38:00.491-07:00WHY I WATCH SPORTS I DON'T PLAYI've always been a little goofy about this. As a kid I watched the typical sports like baseball, basketball and football. But I also watched bowling, golf and tennis. One of my favorite memories was watching Jimmy Conners play his last U.S. Open in the early '90s. I stayed up really late one night watching that classic match against Aaron Krickstein. I actually haveMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-79920106089618523522008-05-25T11:43:00.000-07:002008-05-25T11:54:25.387-07:00WHATCHA DOIN' NOW THAT SCHOOL'S OUT?My kids and I had a great last day. If the public school kids have a party then, heck, we're having a party. We did things like a standing broad jump, a bike obstacle course and dodgeball. I asked them questions during a kind of Homeschool Jeopardy and we ate lots of candy. Later we all went to the local YMCA and swam in the pool. So what am I doing with myselfMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-47894113210853848322008-05-19T17:10:00.000-07:002008-05-19T17:10:01.089-07:00 WHAT MY SCHOOL ROOM/ DINING ROOM LOOKS LIKE AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!! Here are real photos of what homeschooling can do to your house! I don't even think I can call this a dining room anymore. It has a table and chairs but little else to make you think that fine dining occurs here. Oh well. You may remember a post from the beginning of the year where I showed you pictures of this Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-5027104187114680112008-05-19T16:54:00.000-07:002008-05-19T16:54:00.416-07:00THE JOY OF HOMESCHOOLINGThese pictures were taken spontaneously one day. We were not "having school". My son loves Where's Waldo and can be caught at any time of day just studying those pictures. My daughter loves to draw and color. We checked out a book called Drawing Faces by Ed Emberley from our local library. She has gotten really good at learning how to draw from these books. In this Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-83061038500710419522008-05-19T16:36:00.000-07:002008-05-19T16:36:00.188-07:00AROMAFor some reason, I've been tuning in more to the smells around me. That may sound bizarre, but hear me out. When was the last time you cut open an orange, put it in your face and just inhaled the aroma? Go do it right now. It is amazing! And what about outside smells? Since I've started running outside I've been noticing all the different smells, even the not so great ones. Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-49977617935208500752008-05-13T00:12:00.000-07:002008-05-13T09:28:49.740-07:00THE REASON I RUN You may remember a post about Haagen Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream. Well, I think Haagen Dazs is getting a run for its money now. The next time I go into the store for a treat I will have to flip a coin between my old favorite and this new one. You know, they're so different I may just buy both next time! On Mother's Day I gave into temptation and bought this for Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-74163724250757940662008-05-12T17:58:00.000-07:002008-05-12T17:58:00.634-07:00BEING LIKEMINDEDThe blogosphere has an amazing way of bringing people together who have all the same interests and knitting together a little cyber-community. When I first started blogging about four years ago I was thrilled to find other women who homeschooled, were Calvinistic in their theology and thought God should be in charge of their family planning. I think I'm probably the only one of Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-79073528623863781472008-05-12T17:09:00.000-07:002008-05-12T17:09:00.841-07:00 THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE...The is one of a number of books I picked up at a used curriculum sale several weeks ago. I've been wanting this book for a long time and just finished it the other day. If you're a mother and doubting the importance of all you do, please read this book. There are many fascinating little facts in this book, but the most important theme is the powerful influence Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-44780292967513531052008-04-29T08:12:00.000-07:002008-04-29T05:24:30.483-07:00AREN'T YOU PROUD OF THIS GUY?! You may remember previous posts about this little guy. He is my precious little second son who has been a slow reader from day one. He started second grade this year still reading short vowel three letter words. He would get tripped up as soon as long vowels were introduced. I worried about it for a long time and prayed about it too. I never felt led to have Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-19268014351992381882008-04-29T07:55:00.000-07:002008-04-29T05:06:41.262-07:005.6...BUT I THINK I HURT MYSELF!The running had been going very well until late last week. A week ago Monday I felt so great that I ran extra after my running buddy and I said goodbye. I thought I could go forever! I ended up going about 5 1/2 miles, the longest I'd ever run, and when I got home I had the infamous runner's high. I felt like I could do anything!! It was great. I took the dayMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-31276024037465815452008-03-23T21:19:00.000-07:002008-03-23T18:19:33.177-07:00AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH part 2My reading has been slowed lately because I've been busy with the Wrinkle in Time series. That's another set of books I never read as a child. I'm enjoying them immensely, but am still trying to keep up with Neil Postman. The last couple chapters have started me thinking about my conversational habits. Postman's premise is that our modes of communication have Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-72959917658308200072008-03-23T20:46:00.000-07:002008-03-23T17:59:09.632-07:00TRAINING CONTINUESThis has been a very busy month with concerts and family staying with us. I've kept up with my running though and did another race this weekend. It was a fun 5K which benefitted a local high school band. Always a good cause in my opinion. I met someone at the starting line and it turned out we were both running solo. We were able to run together and push each other to finish Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-75288854351765306422008-03-02T15:25:00.000-08:002008-03-02T12:25:46.744-08:00WHAT I GOT AT THE BOOK SALE (the above picture is not me; it was taken in 1970 at a book sale at Smith College) Our county library system holds a used book sale several times a year and the biggest one was this past weekend. This is the fourth year we've gone I think. It's held at a county park where they also have the North Georgia State Fair. One building holds children's books and the other Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-48838781904684308272008-03-02T14:53:00.000-08:002008-03-02T11:53:45.394-08:00THINK ON THISA quote from John Piper's Pierced By the Word ~"If all other variables are equal, your capacity to know God deeply will probably diminish in direct proportion to how much television you watch. There are several reasons for this. One is that television reflects American culture at its most trivial. And a steady diet of triviality shrinks the soul. You get used to it. It starts toMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-33066588583258555022008-02-22T17:00:00.000-08:002008-02-22T14:02:58.683-08:00"AMUSING" SCRIPTUREI've been meaning to post some scripture in relation to my last post on Amusing Ourselves to Death ~"Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man." Proverbs 27:20Our appetites are insatiable at times. Remember the commercial for those chips, "No one can eat just one." ? I think that's the same idea with our eyes and our souls although most may Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-43085658338059216972008-02-11T16:51:00.000-08:002008-02-11T13:57:43.570-08:00BOOK REVIEW - AMUSING OURSELVES TO DEATH by Neil PostmanThis is the second go around on this book for me. The first time I read it in conjunction with another book, All God's Children and Blue Suede Shoes by Ken Myers. I really recommend both. Lately, I've been thinking about my media intake - again. Not the content, but the fact that it's even on. Amusing Ourselves to Death is written by Neil Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-49685388094596427922008-02-09T15:39:00.000-08:002008-02-09T12:50:59.965-08:00DANGEROUS FOOD!!I've been really good lately about my food intake. I've been trying to lose a couple pounds. You know, the ones that start to creep on after 30 and take a lot more work to get rid of? I hate that. Anyway, there are a couple things I just can't keep in the house or I will want to eat the whole thing in one sitting. I've added pictures for dramatic impact. The first one is good ol' Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-5742518176444934232008-01-31T14:14:00.000-08:002008-01-31T11:24:25.946-08:00A LITTLE BRIBING CAN GO A LONG WAYMy middle child has been having one of those wonderful surges in understanding lately. He has been picking up books and reading words we've never gone over. Imagine the big smile on my face! Today my oldest son challenged him to read a book he hadn't read before. He said he would buy him a ring pop if he read it. Candy is a wonderful incentive especially forMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-8017279567795023152008-01-28T16:27:00.000-08:002008-01-28T13:38:56.180-08:00CONVICTIONS - PT. 4 - BIRTH CONTROLWhen my husband and I married almost 12 years ago we knew we were ready to have children right away. We also were pretty sure we wanted God to plan our family size. We weren't adamant or outspoken about this conviction at first. We just agreed that we wanted a big family and were willing to depend on the Lord to plan it. Well, as you might guess, we got pregnantMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-12429910540072068282008-01-26T19:34:00.000-08:002008-01-26T16:37:47.486-08:00AND THE WINNER IS...Not me, obviously! But I had a blast this morning running the race. Thanks to all of you who posted encouragements. It was cold but it didn't snow or sleet. I ran the whole race and didn't walk one time which was one of my goals. I wasn't expecting to be that fast but I ran the whole thing in under 40 minutes which is amazing for me. There were probably 2000 people in Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-21013956836443735592008-01-24T11:43:00.000-08:002008-01-24T09:21:45.928-08:002009 MINI TRIATHLON TRAINING PART 1Well, I've been inspired by my readers to blog about this adventure I'll be taking. Yes, I am going to, Lord willing, participate in a mini triathlon in the summer of 2009. My first step will be running a road race, the Polar Bear 5K. The Polar Bear 5K is sponsored by my church and benefits the senior high choir mission trip to Poland. The race is this Saturday.Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-25461214829404587342008-01-14T10:08:00.000-08:002008-01-14T07:30:31.402-08:00AM I CRAZY???I've been stepping up my workouts the last several weeks and I've had a crazy thought pass through my mind - maybe I could do a mini triathlon? As soon as I start to think about it I think to myself, "What? Are you crazy? When could you find the time for that? And what about swimming in a lake? Gross!" Well, today I took the next step and started looking around for actual racesMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-68849735269382078362007-12-30T15:58:00.000-08:002007-12-30T12:59:06.842-08:00BOOKS, WONDERFUL BOOKSI've meant to write about the books I've been reading this year but the time has gotten away from me. So here's an end of the year list of the books I've read and some of the books I will attempt to read in 2008. I got some great ones for Christmas but they will require some serious effort to get through.2007 BooksFeminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney - very good book. I've Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-37291401273853121872007-12-21T11:22:00.000-08:002007-12-21T08:22:53.884-08:00CONVICTIONS PT.3 - HOMESCHOOLINGYears ago, when our oldest was a preschooler, we didn't have any pressure on us to send him to school. That decision was made for us because of the fact that we had only one car. There was no way he could go to preschool. We also didn't feel like it was worth the money. It was important to us that he stayed home. When it came time for kindergarten we put in an Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-78201953518970280702007-12-18T17:07:00.000-08:002007-12-18T14:07:59.925-08:00CONVICTIONS PT.2Years ago I was a baby Christian and got invited to a bible study. The person who invited me was a friend and I was excited to participate. Everything was great until the end. We had group prayer and suddenly there were strange things I had never heard before coming out of people's mouths. After the bible study I found out what those sounds were - some of the people were Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-34985237145413760322007-11-30T12:19:00.000-08:002007-11-30T12:44:28.830-08:00WAITING AND WATCHINGMy first child took to reading like a pro. Even though he had never gone to preschool and I had only given him minimal reading lessons, he progressed very rapidly and had virtually no problems. I had purchased Phonics Pathways and we probably skipped half the book. By first grade we were reading The Magician's Nephew together. I do not say this to brag. It's important to Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-72658371431012292462007-11-03T17:09:00.000-07:002007-11-03T17:43:47.266-07:00CONVICTION - PART 1Since becoming a Christian almost 16 years ago I've encountered many areas of life where convictions need to be formed. Many of these are not explicitly talked about in the Bible. Some of these areas include education, birth control, driving the speed limit, etc. I'd like to write about what I'll call the evolution of conviction. How have I come to have certain convictions?Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-34261227373230123982007-10-06T11:57:00.000-07:002007-10-06T09:06:58.053-07:00I'M STILL HEREIt's been a long time since I've done a post. My apologies to the small faithful who keep checking on me. I haven't gone away and I'm not abandoning my blog. I love to write and I've had many things swirling around in my head over these past couple months but not enough time to really chew on them and put together a post that I'm happy with. I started something in August but Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-60819166056214725722007-05-28T12:03:00.000-07:002007-05-28T09:03:50.071-07:00DEALING WITH CHRONIC DERMATITISI usually don't blog about medical issues but I felt compelled to write about my chronic dermatitis because maybe it will help someone else dealing with the same issue. I know that in the last ten years of battling this problem, I wish I had been able to read about someone else's experience. My hand problem started about twelve years ago. I would get little Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-80470437467608417382007-05-05T10:34:00.000-07:002007-05-05T07:34:59.882-07:00LIVING THROUGH HIMI read this morning in 1 John 4:9. God sent His Son that we might live through Him. What does that look like? I could pretty much describe what it doesn't look like by drawing you a picture of my anxiety lately. Anxiety is an alarm bell that tells me I'm depending on myself. Living through Christ means to be fully dependent on God's performance on my behalf. So what has GodMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-31999982676898174292007-05-05T10:11:00.000-07:002007-05-05T07:11:40.341-07:00HUMILITY=SURRENDER=FREEDOMDo I want grace? Then I should pursue humility. "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34 In all things I should place myself below others. "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Philippians 2:3 This is not self-hatred. This is surrender. Surrender to the God who is far Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-32089693149013133922007-05-05T09:50:00.000-07:002007-05-05T06:50:13.309-07:00JUST BREATHINGDo you ever feel afraid to just breathe? Just stop and take it all in whatever it is. Lately I've felt imprisoned by my own expectations and to-do lists. Why can't I get it all done? I've not allowed myself the freedom to just sit and experience.Early this morning I awoke to a small storm. There was the light tapping of tiny hail on my window and flashes of lightning Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-62716771464754996772007-05-05T08:55:00.000-07:002007-05-05T05:55:49.659-07:00NOTHING LEFT EXCEPT PRAISEBefore I knew the Lord there was nothing I could do. And now, after being saved and made His own, everything has already been done. We already have everything."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places..." Ephesians 1:3"His divine power has granted to us all things that Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-46777616799281950202007-05-05T08:43:00.000-07:002007-05-05T05:43:39.855-07:00FREEDOM FROM SELFCharles Spurgeon, May 5th (morning) ~ "For if God be your God and Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special interest in you; you are the object of His choice, accepted in His beloved Son."The Lord is the Creator of all and owns everything. Yet He has placed His special affection on His children whom He has predestined and called and known from all eternity. If Romans 8:29-30 Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-53801082652460436252007-04-17T12:40:00.000-07:002007-04-17T09:41:09.084-07:00WE CAN'T CHOOSE OUR CROSSSometimes I dream about the kind of sacrifices I would like to make for the Lord. I think about how glorious it would be to deny myself in a certain situation be it as a missionary or whatever other position I could think of. It rarely happens that way. The cross comes to us whenever God presents us with something that cuts directly across our flesh. It could be Meredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5528798.post-34357027730788810552007-04-06T09:23:00.000-07:002007-04-06T06:36:30.676-07:00FOR DENISE (and others who've wondered where I've been)I'm here! I've had a lot of posts running around in my brain but not a lot of time to spend blogging about them. The end of February had me under the weather for a couple weeks and March was spent doing the Easter play at our church. Spring break is here but I've been dedicating myself to a major decluttering of my house in preparation forMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15465827555518522803noreply@blogger.com4