I'm sorry VT

I'll probably be criminalized for posting this blog, but these thoughts have been heavy on my heart since the events at VT.

Thirty-three lives lost are a lot. Tragic is the right word to describe the situation. Families, friends, loved ones are going to go a long time before feeling like the world is right again. I know.

Yet, every day, in places like Uganda, the Sudan, Baghdad, Afghanistan, losing this many people at once has become common. Who flinches anymore when a news anchor says something like, "In Baghdad today, a suicide bomber killed 35 Iraqi civilians who were in line signing up for the police force."? Or, "Thousands of children in Uganda tonight will travel into cities and lock themselves into safe buildings to prevent their own aduction and recruitment in the Lord's Resistance Army."?

When did we become so self-involved to think that the only lives that matter are American lives? When did the ongoing tragedies of our time stop being tragic? Every life has value, even a Sudanese life. Every senseless killing is, in fact, senseless. Let's stop pretending our small corner of the world is the only place where people grieve over events they cannot change. My heart hurts for those people who will never know what other life their friend, son, or daughter might have had....even if that friend, son, or daughter wasn't an American.

Home

Funny how home feels. I spent the last week in my parents' home, where folks still call the pretty pink room, "Amy's room." As I pulled into my driveway today, before even getting out of my car, I thought, "I'm so glad I'm home."

Home has many different shapes, sizes, and places to me. I am so blessed!

funny stuff

I'll keep this brief. Those who know me know I love a funny sounding word or phrase....like blog. This week I watched a DVD that had a character, a lawyer, whose name was Bob Loblaw. Now say that out loud a couple of times...funny, eh?

Now get the fact that he has a law blog, "Bob Loblaw's Law Blog." Say it a few times and it sticks with you...I've been saying it randomly for 4 days now and it still cracks me up!

Rants

1-I'm tired. This is a tough week.

2-Stop saying 'terminally ill.' Last time I checked we're all dying. Say 'sick with cancer' or some other phrase. We're all terminal, deal with it.

3-Stop saying 'at about' like "I'll meet you at about 3." It is ridiculous. At indicates precision, while about indicates generality. Use around instead, as in, "I'll meet you around 3."

Okay, rants over. Thanks

Cheers

Dinner was great...I felt very "fusion." My hat is off to Daniel and Lee Ann for inspiring me to mix cultures on my plate (asian edamame, polish pierogies, american spinach, greek feta) and for the great wine that accompanied the meal...a carmenere & merlot blend called 'oops'. A fabulous meal to end the day. Cheers to you all!

Saints and Sinners

I often think I fall only into the sinners category, like when...

• I get furious over a fairly mild confrontation at work
• I would rather sleep in than get up & to places on time
• I choose the TV over my Bible
• I have one glass of wine too many
• I devote more of my life to work than to God

Fortunately, I have saints for friends. Today, Denise asked me how I was feeling spiritually. This type of discussion is still odd for me. I spent my life prior to the last 3 years just pretending that everything was okay that I never got very good at analyzing 'how I feel.' So, I stopped and I thought about how my life seems full of blessings, in spite of all the shortcomings listed above. I have a home, a job I enjoy, family & friends I love, and more than enough of all the material things I always seem to see as so important. Then I thought about the gift of discipline. I don't have enough, but I have more than I ever thought possible for me. I daily read the Bible, and even though I'm not even through the OT after 15 months, I still feel like the daily time in the Word is a blessing I couldn't have imagined. I pray regularly and the daily dialogue reminds me that I am not all there is, and that this life is fleeting. I finally get what it means to live for the future instead of the here & now.

Because of that, I think I might get what the saints hold out for. Amen!

Two Things

Thing 1-A great quote from my pastor from today's service, in reference to Daniel 7: "Perseverance is what we do now because we know the future is won for us."

Thing 2-There is a website I learned about today that gives an overview of what our congress-people are doing, voting on, and making noise about. The bonus is that it is easy to access, read, and understand. There are links to "most viewed members" as well as links to current bills being debated. Other interesting stuff abounds as well. The site is www.opencongress.org