Sunday, January 23, 2011

High Desert Museum


Claustrophobia

Beckah came over yesterday, and we decided, since it was free day at the High Desert Museum, that we would venture there and have a fun day exploring the wonders there. BOY did we misjudge....we got there and there were cars and different vehicles parked all along the driveway up to the actual parking lot, but we persevered and found a spot close to the entrance. People were pouring into it like it was...free....oh yeah.

We stayed maybe an hour, and many things were not a possibility due to the CRAZY amount of humans swarming the place. I felt what it must feel lie to be an ant in an anthill. SO MANY FREAKING PEOPLE......

In the inside division of the museum, there are all of these 1800's displays, and usually it is my favorite part (besides the otter, of course...it's name is Thomas and he's usually so playful and happy-go-lucky you cannot help but giggle at his antics..) but the inside was so congested with people, and it's pretty dark in there, that I immediately started getting a panic attack and hyperventilating from Claustrophobia, that we hunted out the nearest exit and took it. It led us straight through the butterfly exhibit, which would have been so awesome, if the volunteers hadn't just gone on their smoke break, filling the already 85 degree (yes. Hot as HELL, after being used to 35-45 degree weather this Winter) with the stench of cigarette smoke in the misty and coagulated room. We bolted towards the doors to the outside division of the museum, and AHHHH, filled our lungs with the sweet scent of pine and chill weather (although warmish compared to our current weather, according to Becks, "A heat wave!" haha.)
and the sweetest scent of all...no squealing children, shoving parents, shuffling feet of the elderly, etc.
I HATE crowds!!!!
It could have been a really fun time...IF there were not so many humans. I know that may sound cold-hearted, but c'mon, I think as people, we all share one common-thread...We all enjoy the expanse of being one of few people within a space so that we don't have to fight for our air supply and elbow room. It's not too cold-hearted to want the foot space to be able to walk freely where you want to go without standing in a huge line. It's just the way we are.
That said, it was really cool of the High Desert Museum to have a free-day, it was just overrated, I think I would definitely prefer to pay the over-priced fee to go in, if I can walk through the place without worrying about losing my 4-year old in a crowd of thousands. Just sayin......

Friday, January 21, 2011

Once upon a time there was a girl...

So, it may be hard for some to imagine this, but once, I was a girl who was young, and carefree and full of dreams. Lately I have been feeling like a washed-out, exhausted, dreamless, hopeless mother and wife with no imagination.
I mean lately, as in, the last couple of years. But in the last month or so, I feel that I am returning to my roots, and starting to dream again, and hope, and have some pretty crazy faith. I believe that it was on hold because I wasn't creatively and passionately seeking after my Jesus. He is really the dream-bestower, the hope-renewer, and the faith-infiltrator. I have been attempting to gather up my energy and pour it more fully into serving Him. Obeying His voice, listening for the quiet instruction, and going where He leads. I want to be on an adventure in this life, and I know I can only truly embark on this adventure if I allow Him to be the guide and one who forges ahead of me.
I have heard many exploits and endeavors, by people who allow the Holy Spirit to lead them wherever they go, and I want that badly! Graham Cooke is one of those people, he is plunging ahead and going where many have not dared to go, and I want to be ready at Christ's command, whether it be into the dark alleys to shed some light, or down the street to a lonely neighbor's house to bring some cookies and conversation. I long to be less internal and more loving outwardly.
This will only be good and lasting if I first give my efforts and energy to Jesus as an offering of worship from my firstfruits. He is worthy of the first of our finances, the first of our time, and the first of our outpouring of life each day.
So, whoever is my friend and loves me, will hold me accountable to this calling. True worship is placing Him first, and my greatest desire as a human and Christ-follower, is to be a true worshiper. I love Him, and I want it to show. amen?
I just spent the last hour of my life trying to figure out how to re-do my blog, and ended up with something I still am not happy with at all. I am super frustrated!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Crap Storm

Life at present is a swirling turbulent storm of poo. It is as difficult as can be, the trials squeezing me into a pulp. I am in a corner, trapped, but the Lord is still sovereign, and He will be victorious. Right now, even though I believe that, I am fighting off discouragement and weariness. It seems like the attack on our finances is a vice-grip that keeps getting tighter and tighter, threatening to pop the head off of me and destroy me, but this too shall pass. Right?
I will praise You in this storm.

"Wherever God's finger points, His hand will clear a way."

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. ~ Habakkuk 3:17-18

He is my help, my eyes are on Him, He is teaching me to trust even though all feels lost. He is teaching me to be content in every situation. To sing and praise Him even though I feel like weeping. This may sound dramatic, but there are so many varying things that have gone on in the past month, (actually, five months, but who's counting? ha.) that I can't even write about on here. People keep telling me there is a season of rest and good things coming, and I will hope for the best. Thanks for reading, and praying, if you think of us. Blessings.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Sorrow & Joy

The most obvious example of sorrow and joy to me is marriage. There are so many things that can bring you either. I am so in love with my husband, more so today than when we first said our vows. He is my best friend, and when anything is wrong, I feel it in my own heart. Sounds strange, but anyone who is married to their best friend knows exactly what I am talking about.
Because we have a roaring enemy that prowls about seeking how to destroy us, and our marriages, I am finding I need to step up my prayer life.
I find joy when we laugh about things only we can laugh about together. I find sorrow when there are things he thinks he can't share with me. I find joy when he is home on a Sunday and we snuggle up together and there is nothing to fight about. There is sorrow when he is gone for hours and days and I feel far away from him because I haven't heard his voice in my ear, or felt his hand in mine. I never knew, not even when I first married Chris, that I could love someone this much. There is a verse in Song of Solomon, and he read it to me when we were engaged. It says,"Love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned." S of S 8:6-7.
What a powerful entry! My heart is feeling the full effect of this today. Love is stronger than death.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Agoraphobic? nah....

The leaves are turning shades of umber, russet, bright reds, banana yellow outside of my window. I should be outdoors enjoying the precious last few days of sunshine and park play, but I have been wasting away inside in my own private shell of privacy. The poor children, they just want a place to run free like little wild animals frolicking in the grass. I feel like some sort of agoraphobic. Except I am definitely not. I don't want to feel this way, but it is hard not to feel as though I am in a type of limbo at the moment. I am supposed to be acting as though I am moving, getting my house in order, but there is no house yet to move into on the other side...God has told us repeatedly to act in faith, and we are attempting it. I don't even know how Noah built that ark! There were no drops of rain or storm clouds in sight for the 40 years he constructed that clunky, crazy boat in his backyard, and all the neighbors were judging him to be a nut-job. But he faithfully kept on.
I have it easy, so to speak. People just don't find works of faith to be a thing of substance. My family thinks we are crazy, our friends keep asking if we've found a place yet, etc. and God just has us waiting on Him and His bricks that He is laying one at a time. One step two step, three step....Trust Me. Four step, five step, six step, wait.
Today is all we have. I should be making the most of it. And I am sitting in a chair with searing back pain waiting for some good news. Who's the nut-job again?