Thanks to everyone who has congratulated us on our pregnancy. Everything is going well so far. My only complaint is that I have this eery queaziness most every morning that usually results in what pregnant women dread - puking. That being said, it's wonderful to know that I have a life growing inside me. Future heir, yo, future heir.

Mark and I upped our food budget to $75/week. We have been pretty faithful, though surely not perfect. For a couple weeks I had a lot of food aversions, so we spent a lot trying to figure out what works. I came to realize that it wasn't the food that was making me sick. The most convincing explanation of morning sickness is a deficiency of B vitamins. They, if I understand it correctly, are a huge help in making strong brains, neurons, etc. And it's not a particular B vitamin. In fact, they need each other to do their individual job. So if you don't take all of them, the ones you do take won't work properly. Examples of Bs are thiamine, niacine, B6 and B12, among others.

We are trying to get a condo in Branson. Unfortunately, the one we really wanted has some sort of breech of contract with the development their in, so we lost out. But I got an email from someone else with a place just as gorgeous as the other. It's not as big, though. I might be able to talk her down. The total price is over $2000. I can justify that if it were as big as the other, which would have come in just under that price. Since it's so much smaller, I think I will offer her $1700 -- taxes & cleaning fees included. We'll see how that goes.

We're pumped about the birth, too. It will likely take place within the first 2 weeks of November. We are planning on a completely natural, at-home birth. Before you scowl, watch The Business of Being Born. Amazing statistics. It's expose-style, filmed mainly in NYC. One incredible statistic is about 2 hospitals in New York: one has a ceasarean rate of 30%, the other of 35%. My beef is that ceasareans are not for low-risk births. If a woman ends up having surgery because she has been given an epidural and too much pitocin, the hospital is doing the mother and the baby a disservice. In talking to some of the midwives around here, I found out that the local women's hopsital has a C-section rate of 60%. I mean, seriously, why don't you just shoot me in the foot? The other local hospital's rate is at 30%. I could understand those numbers if the number of babies dying at birth in populations comprable to ours (i.e. Britain or Norway or Australia or Finland) were the same, but they're not. That many babies and mothers should not be at risk, not so much so to have to have surgery. Lo siento, amigos.

Don't even get me started on the correlation between epidurals, pitocin, vaccinations and ADD, ADHD, SIDS and autism.

names

So Mark and I have some news. We are 10 weeks pregnant. :) Yay. We have been thinking about names for a long time. About a year ago we settled on Abraham Louis for our first boy. Then we fell in love with the name Juila. So our first girl will be Julia Michele. Last week Jake was down, and he was telling us how he is going to name his daughter Jacobena. Lovely, huh? Then Mark mentioned how he wants to name our son Trajan. Trajan? Seriously, I am willing to name our dog Trajan. ...until I realized that we can call him Tray (though I am not settled on the spelling of the shortname.)! So our second boy, will be Trajan William. Then tonight we were talking, and Mark REALLY likes the name Emily. He has mentioned it before, and though I know a very lovely lady named Emily, I am just not sure I want to name our daughter Emily. Did I mention that he REALLY loves it? So we brainstormed... There is just something really neat about the combination of Abraham Louis & Trajan William, as there is a connection between Julia & Emily. They're very Victorian, and they make me think of Queen Anne's lace and peonies, both of which I love. So we're drivin' and runnin' through various family names -- Ruth, Evelyn, Susan. Really lovely, sure. But just not that zing, not perfection. Until we thought of Emily Jane. :) There you have it -- if we have twins of any combination, we have their names picked out. 1) Abraham Louis, 2) Julia Michele, 3) Trajan William, and 4) Emily Jane. This does, yes, imply that if we had our choice in the matter we would love to have a boy first. ;) G'nite.

article

Amazing. So toward the end the author mentions present-day keeping Sabbath organizations, including the Church of God Seventh Day, Messianic Jewish groups, UCG, LCG, CGI, PCG & ICG. Okay, incredible point, but who is leaving their footprint? LCG. Why? Because there's a telecast and words are actually said and furthermore quoted. The more we say what we mean, mean what we say and know where we stand the more people will take note. I appreciate our leaders' hard work; amazing.

bah

Matthew 18:1-5 -- At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me."

Christ then goes into 3 warnings about His children. One: "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the sea" (re. v 6-9). Don't want to be the guy who offends, got it.

Two: lost sheep. "It is not the will of your Father who in is heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (re. v. 9-14) Our attitude toward all future heirs really should be that we not only long for them to come home, but that we'll set out to find them.

Three: If you're offended, go to your brother (re. v. 15-20).

There are people who come and go in and out of my life. There is not a thing I love more than to love people, to know them and to cherish them. I've ended up hurt and disappointed quite a few times. But really remembering Christ's three points concerning His children brings it back home. No matter what, I'll try not to offend, I'll never give up hope and if I have issues, I'll take it to them first.

if you want something done...

Do you guys struggle with time management? I do. Sometimes, I kick myself because of the amount of time I waste. TV, Facebook, piddling around. Many of the things I don't accomplish are a result of a dangerous mindset I often fall into: "I've done enough; I deserve" to do this or that. Yes, it's inherently wrong, I am aware. The result of this mindset is that good amounts of bible study, exercise, real prayers simply aren't accomplished. Essentially, it's not that I've done enough, but that I am lazy.

Mr. Rod McNair gave a fantastic sermon that we listened to this week. It was entitled, "Be Prepared." Great points, very well thought out and executed. He said something that I think is vital: "If you want something done, give it to a busy man." If you looked at my schedule, you would not necessarily call me busy. I work 8-5, yes. I keep a house and have a hubby. We serve in our local congregations, but I wouldn't say we are overly busy. But I want to be the one others can count on. I want to be reliable. It's fair to say, given the lack of, like I mentioned earlier, good bible study, prayer and exercise that I am not efficient. Busy people are efficient. I am not referring to busybodies, "in other people's affairs," but people who manage their time well.

So the question is, "what is enough?" Surely, we all need a break. But what is a break? A shift has to occur in my mind. Just because I get home at 5 and am sleepy, does not mean it's time to rest. To be noted, to make good on bible study, prayer & exercise, we're talking 2 hours of commited time a day -- that's it. To eagerly approach these things at the end of the work day means that I may become more reliable. I care about being reliable to we fellow humans, yes. But more importantly, I want to be reliable to God, to be a good and faithful servant.

Ay, Eire, Zerah.

Neat news: we are cashing in some premature savings bonds and an investment account, both of which Mark's family set up for him over the years. It may not make a whole lot of sense -- "why would you cash in future 'wealth?'" Two reasons -- one, the 'wealth' is only earning us like $30 a year. And two, the $2000 we have 'invested' will easily pay for itself in two months once we have zero debt. Cha-ching.

Second: the study of national symbols and the identity of nations is INCREDIBLE. Have you ever wondered why the eagle on our national seal has an olive leaf in his talon? Have you ever wondered why there is a harp & a red hand on the national seal of Ireland? Have you ever wondered what in the world a 'Saxon' really is? [I watched Arthur last night and Saxons are not portrayed as the good guys...] LCG has a lot of incredible clues. Sometimes I think we forget how many clues are right there for the taking. I just finished God's Church Through the Ages. It took 2 read throughs and a timeline of people & events to slightly grasp all the information. For the millionth time Ivor C. Fletcher's The Incredible History of God's True Church was recommended to me. These reads are extremely thought-provoking. There's a couple more that are must reads if you are going to be somewhat-literate in the history of Sabbath-keeping Christianity. We'll see just how many times they have to be recommended before I'll take heed. It's exciting to know who I am, where I come from, what lessons from history I can learn, and exactly what role our ancestors - both physical and spiritual - play in our lives even today.

i agree with annette

Woot to Dave Ramsey and I love my husband. I wouldn't have the vision I do without them. We do it all together: budgeting, grocery shopping, affirming that the huge checks we're writing should indeed be written.

Tonight Mark and I worked our second month's budget. Check it: we paid off 1/6 of our car this evening. We will be done paying off the car by May.

Two scenarios could occur over the course of the next 2 years. One: we don't get pregnant and pay off our debt in less than a year, save up for a house, and fully fund our Emergency Fund. Two: we get pregnant, pay off all our debt, save up for a house and continue to fund our Emergency Fund. Either way, give it three years and we have the potential to have no debt, own a home, $10,000 in the bank and niños.

Gracias a Dios, no? I am extremely thankful we are American and that Abraham had faith.

the sower

Alright. Matthew 13: 18-23. Parable of the Sower Explained; the headline in my Bible. 4 kinds of seed sown -- by the wayside, on stony ground, among thorns, in fertile soil. Wayside: hears the gospel, doesn't quite understand and Satan ultimately snatches him away. On Stony Ground: hears it, loves it, but once persecution or trials arise, he stumbles. Among Thorns: hears it, but the cares of this life and all its deceitfulness choke him and he produces no fruit. Fertile Soil: gets it and bears fruit.

I don't know about you, but I haven't experienced persecution (so therefore cannot be stony) nor do I like to think that I am carried away by the cares of this world. And I have been a steady believer for awhile now... So I've been sown on fertile ground, yes? But really? There are so many other warnings not be to carried away with the cares of this world and to endure persecution. And I don't think it's safe to think you're doin' just fine. You know?

To reference a good talk I had with Kristen Vorel this Sabbath evening, what do you think you are? What am I? Kristen (I don't think she minds my divulging) thinks she is a Fertile/Thorny hybrid. Definitely a good thought, but I see there to be an obvious distinction; you are either one or you're another. It didn't make sense to me that you could be both.

So I asked Mr. Beyersdorfer. To encourage Kristen, he told me to tell her, "God does not sow bad seed." He went on to explain that the 4 types of ground the seed found themselves sprouting up amongst were conditions. We may at various times find ourselves to be in one or all of those four conditions. Or we may see others go through some of the various conditions as they come to understanding. But the ulitmate lesson is to know not only that these types of things may try us, but that we've been given the ability to count the cost, know where we stand, and call on our Gardener to help change our situation, the type of ground we find ourselves in.

I ah-ha'ed not only at Mr. B's comment, but also at Mark's point. Note Luke 13:6-9 -- "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if it not, after that you can cut it down." Word. Who is the Gardener and Keeper and Advocate? :) Though we may be cut down and thrown into the fire if we do not bear good fruit (Matt. 3:10), we do have someone who will help us see to it that the ground we are sprout among is able to help us bear fruit, "some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

pensamientos

This charting thing is frustrating.

We finished our Emergency Fund.

Mark's growing out his beard, and I LOVE it. But it is a little obtrusive if he comes at me against the grain.

I really want to go on a 2-day canoe trip on the Buffalo. Encourage my hubby to support this endeavour.

Charlie & Annette are married.

Kristen posted pictures of the Vermont weekend on her Facebook. Do you ever see pictures that you wish you were in? I feel that way about VT and the few I've seen of Fredericksburg. Post more, post more!

Joplin Family Weekend, February 16 & 17. Be there or be square.

I know: random. Such is my brain. May it find you well.

the summation

I read through the book of Ecclesiastes over the past 3 days. It's awesome, it's always been awesome. This read-through, though, was different than previous reads. During this past Feast Mark read it daily. Somewhere he heard that Ecclesiastes was the book traditionally read at the Feast of Tabernacles. It takes on a different meaning when thought of in light of the Feast. I don't think I need to emphasize too emphatically how deep and spiritually meaningful the Feast is. But for those not familiar, there are a couple of traditional, and bibically commanded, guidelines:

a. save a tithe, referred to as second tithe (the first going to the church), and spend it during the 7 and one days at the Feast. One of the neatest things we've learned here recently is that if you save just a little bit every month, in one year you have more than enough money to do something crazy, like go to Hawaii or Barbados or NEW BRAUNFELS! Second tithe is that foreordained mechanism.
b. Eat, drink and be merry; have fun; spend your money on "whatever your heard desires."
c. go to church services everyday; get spiritually fed.

Basically, the Feast is designed to give you a break from the noise of the rest of world, to refocus on family, and to enjoy the fruit of your labors. But more than a God-ordained vacation, it pictures the Millenium. No more Satan, no more disease and suffering, no more broken families, abuse or financial woes. But peace.

What I learn every year at the Feast, and furthermore throughout the year, is capitulated in Ecclesiastes. So for your reading pleasure, a list of the scriptures that make me proud of being a Christian and keeping the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:14).

1:8 -- All things are full of labor; man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

2:13-14 -- Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived that the same event happens to them all.

2:24 -- Nothing is better for a man than that he shoudl eat and dring, and that his soul should enjoy in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

3:10-15 -- I have seen that the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor -- it is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past.

3:22 -- So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

4:6 -- Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.

5:1 -- Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice fo fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

7:8 -- The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

7:29 -- Truly, this only I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

8:14-15 -- There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. So I commend enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

9:7-8 -- Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil.

:9 -- Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which your perform under the sun.

:10 -- Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no workor device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where your are going.

12:6-7 -- Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

12:13 -- Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this man's all.

What we've got now is awesome. Embrace the good things.

correction

Janelle, the weightlifter, is actually not going to the Olympics in Beijing. It's all about timing. And I was way off. She is 9K off from going to the Oceanias in March. She then will be training for the Commonwealth Games, which happen in 2010. Most recent article. The Olympics are a posibility, just not for 2008.

proud

Incredible how very small this world is. Article. Janelle was camper in Dorm 1G at LYC 2001, when I was a teen counselor. She is on her way to qualifying not only for the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi, India, but for the '08 Olympics in Beijing. What an amazing person. She is one of those who find their strengths and are doggedly determined to make something of them. Janelle was the sweetest, most humble girl I had that year. She did without having to be told, a workhorse. I hope she gets this.

i am a gazelle

Not really. Thanks to Charlie Triplett, we have started reading Dave Ramsey's Your Total Money Makeover. Basically, we want to get out of debt. "Why?" you might ask. Or, "What kind of debt do you have that you are so motivated to get drastic?" Well, I have about $19K left from Salem & the UofA. We have our Civic, which we still owe $6K on. And I think that's it. Mark has no college debt. Yay, Arkansas (i.e. WalMart funding). And that really isn't that bad if you compare us to most mid-twenties young marrieds'. So here's how it works: save a little money ($1000 to be exact), then start paying down all of the random debts - usually starting with credit cards and working your way up to the big ones. You pay the principal on everything, meanwhile paying over as much as you possibly can on the littler guys. I cannot emphasize the "as much as you possibly can" part enough. This is where the gazelle comes in. Think of a gazelle as it realizes it's about to be pounced on by a cheetah. [This is the analogy Dave Ramsey uses, so it's qualified...] The gazelle gets intense. And one has to be intense when cutting expenses. As you pay off the the littler guys, you progressively work your way up to the big dudes. You have to cut out any spending that keeps you from paying significantly over so as to quickly rid yourself of whatever debt you are working on. And to pay over may mean selling something. To know what you need to cut, you need to track your spending patterns and work a budget every single month. It's intimidating, but the thought of being debt free in less than 2 years just tickles me. Everytime you pay off one smaller debt you add that amount to the overpay on the next guy. Another really cool thing is that budget planning is date night for me and hubby. And the budget becomes something we share, stress or not. Maybe I am a gazelle.

unite the clans

It's war everyone. "With whom," you ask? With bitter cold temperatures, of course. It was 28 last night here in Northwest Arkansas. Mark had to declare, "unite the clans." The clans being his fleece and windbreaker that, when zipped as one, fend off any wintery mix.

I was standing in the kitchen when it was announced. His Braveheart allusions make me giggle.

let all that you do be done with love

I had the privilege of hearing from a couple of my girls last night. They really do inspire me. One of them spent some time recently with friends who are not on the same track as she is spritually. Not that their end is not the same, but at this point they are interested in pursuing different paths. Too many a time, in their company, she finds herself trying with all her might not to slip onto the 'wrong' side. None of the behavior she has joined in with these friends is so wrong, it's just not so right. She realizes this and is in the process of deciding how to deal with those not-so-wrong relationships.

I feel a commonality with her. My junior & senior year in college I encountered the same dichotomy -- there were really good-hearted people both in the church and friends from school who were making decisions that were not so wrong...and yet were not so right either. They were just in a phase that was not making me a stronger Christian. For example, clubbing (sex with your clothes on), drinking heavily (inhibition leading to unnecessary action), harnessing sex appeal, etc. As much as I wanted to have disdain for them, I wanted to embrace them. As much as I wanted to walk away from them, they didn't see the harm in walking what I saw to be a fine line.

What happened to me was that I wanted so bad to not 'judge.' Harken: Matt 7:1 -- "Judge not that be not judged." There was a desire to be all things to all people, re 1Cor. 9:22. What I found was that I was not not judging, I was compromising. Compromising time and energy. Time and energy that should have been set developing habits that build living faith -- note Daniel's example in chapter 6 of the book bearing his name. I was not then and likely am not now so faithful and of such devout habit so as to blatantly disobey the king and not get eaten when thrown into a den of lions.

At the conclusion of my college years, I found that instead of being a light to others, my character was weakened...and that noted by my friends. Note 1Cor. 10:23 -- All things are lawful for me [I'm on the right side of that line], but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

BUT...how do you interact with people who you have come to love and adore who just are not on the same wavelength you are? I think it comes back to the principle of time. There are not enough hours in the day to ever stop building faith through study, prayer and interaction with others who you can share your thoughts with. When you do find time, and we all do, to compromise, in the words of my husband, "Don't be afraid to leave." Leave the room, the conversation, the party, the wedding, the drunken hangout, leave even the thought process. Sometimes it's harder to justify that when you're leaving church friends, but you are more of an example if you say, "I really am not comfortable," than if you stay and end up compromising.

I think it's really vital to stay in touch with people. Maybe I don't hang out in situations I'm not comfortable with, but I can certainly be available when it's a good environment. We may end up running in different circles, but think of how much it will mean to them if I am there for them through it all. Obviously, everyone is there for one another to varying degrees. But to truly be defined as a Philadelphian, we have to practice love. Note Romans 12:9 & 13:10. And I especially love 1Cor. 16:14.

And that's really what it comes down to in my mind -- love people, put your heart into building healthy relationships. Of course, you can't be afraid of disappointment. Who knows where everyone will indeed turn out? But love them. "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God," says Paul in Romans chapter 8, verse 19.

mr. walden

Hey guys,
I just wanted to quickly clarify the text I forwarded to many people this afternoon. (And for those of you who I didn't happen to text, read on!) Mr. Keith Walden, pastor of the Albuquerque, NM congregations -- and practically 1/4 of the western states -- is sick. You may recall the prayer request in the update from HQ...back in June they announced that he was indeed suffering from throat & lymph cancer. Well, it's not lookin' so good. I got the affirmed 'indeed' from the Robinson's (the Mrs' parents); it would take a miracle to save Mr. Walden's life at this point. Prior to the Feast he was getting relatively better; nothing noticeably negative. Since the Feast it's been getting progressively worse.

Also, I think it's worth mentioning that Mrs. Walden recently got over a bout with shingles. Another outbreak could occur if her stress level continues like it is.

None of their immediate family lives in the NM area. Some family, though, is out visiting right now. They're alone and that makes it worse.

I don't think we need to talk about how this would effect the strain on the already strained ministry.

This comes to mind: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. --Ps. 103:1-5

why women still die to give birth

There is an article up on BBC. Essentially, the US is being blamed for not supporting abortion. "Women's lives are saved when abortion is legal," Ms Coen said. "And saving women's lives strengthens the family, makes societies healthier, economies grow faster and countries stronger. It's a win-win story."

Food for thought: does sacrificing one life save others? Better yet, why would God hate abortion? Is it true that abortion is the solution in saving a nation's mothers? I want to dig into this one because it's so easy to settle for the murder arguement. In the minds of so many people, though, it is better to let the child die instead of letting the mother die. And it's as simple as that.

I would really love your input...so let me know your thoughts. Find me some scriptures, too. I am apparently biblically illiterate today - can't find a few of scriptures that are coming to mind.

fotos

Bueno, porque no saque algunas fotos, deben mirarlas de Annette: fotos.

across the threshold...

Well, folks, I have a job. I have fasted quite a number of times about my job situation, meanwhile praying that He would open the doors He wants open and completely shut the ones He wants shut. He shut the doors for teaching, so I started searching elsewhere. A friend at church, Tiffany Hooley, recommended me to her boss who recommended me to a branch in Springdale. I was "overqualified" for that position, so they promised to keep my resume and let me know. I got a call last week, that a position that was perfect for me opened up. So, today I interviewed for an administrative assistant position with the Private Banking sector of Arvest Bank. Within 2 hours of my interview I was offered the position. I do not take it for granted that it happened so swiftly and so soon after not only my fast but also the Feast. This door was swung open for me. Yay, He is amazing.

Just an FYI: I just got off the phone with John Robinson (re. my recent post about Ella). Ella's eczema is clearer than it's ever been. Now, he made sure to clarify that she has been getting progressively better. But, people really, "exceedingly and abundantly!" I am excited. I will be earnest in my prayers for her complete recovery. God speed!

As a side note: since I will be working in a professional dress environment, all the Ann Taylor stuff I bought at the Feast will be put to good use! :) Yay, second tithe!

nasty

When my mom uses the word nasty, it refers to something absolutely dispicable. She does not use it lightly. When I was a teenager, there were many a time when she would comment on my being "nasty." Can you picture me with the usual teenage and female borax & vinegar? I can still hear, "Amanda Jane, do not be so nasty." [with a hiss -- na-ahhh-sty.]

I had an epiphany at the Feast. Epiphanies are beautiful things. I get the same feeling when I walk along the flower garden and suddenly realize that there's a new blossom. "Humph, beautiful it is." The Feast this year was just that. The more excited I got about my ah-ha, the more it was like no other...that has ever existed.

I explained my ah-ha in an earlier post...we can use each other; our faith grows and multiplies the more bonded we are as brethren and the more we trust in our Creator for any number of different miracles and answers to prayers.

The more I talked to people the more I realized that many are coming from completely different perspectives on how God answers prayers. If someone disagrees or has a different approach on a matter, it doesn't make them wrong or Laodecian or weak. If I have an amanda-epiphany and most of my friends completely support me and someone else who I love and respect puts a wet blanket on the fire, it doesn't make him wrong. It means that in his wisdom and love, he has a different perspective. If I get angry at him because he offers counsel that I wasn't expecting or that I didn't want to hear, I have to swallow it. What good does my hurt heart to anyone -- even myself? Where does my heart go when my pride is hurt? To myself - inwardly. In no way does being angry, wallowing in my pride, at another's opinion do me any good. Mama Evans echoes, "Amanda Jane, do not be so nasty." "Yes, ma'am."

The longer I am in the church of God, the more I appreciate a lesson I learned from Messrs. R. McNair in my first Dance class at GYC 1996 -- there is a way of give and there is a way of get. Truly, if any of the good things that I learn are going to make a bit of difference, I have to live the way of give, unconditionally. So I ask, and if He really is capable of answering in the untold millions of ways He could, He will. ...really, that is the ah-ha.