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My tendency to judge …
I absolutely cringed this weekend when I realized what a strong tendency I have to (silently of course! don’t want to look bad … ) judge certain women. (I do. I really do. Oh! This is such a graceless sin. I am really struck and disgusted by my heart.) I know that I am adopting a loveless attitude toward them because inwardly I hear this little voice: “What kind of a CHRISTIAN would …“ And then there is a list of “offenses” that really, are just opportunities for love, kindness, forbearance, friendship, patience … growth in grace. I hear this grace in the words of people around me who don’t…
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When God says, “No.” (HT to Carolyn McCulley)
Don’t miss this wonderful read over at Carolyn McCulley’s Solo Femininity. What a precious reminder of the goodness of God. Thanks, Carolyn! And be blessed, all– Yours, Tara B.
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Does it count as homeschooling …
Does it count as homeschooling if you count out loud when you do your 500-zillion abs in the morning? 🙂 Happy Thursday all! Remember–if you’re struggling … this too shall pass. Every day of your life will not feel like this AND all suffering will be OVER one day. If you’re happy … every good and perfect gift comes from above. Rejoice! Rejoice. If you’re like me … struggling / happy / struggling / happy, don’t forget to REST. Trust that your relationship with God is not based on you, but on His merciful, saving kindness. And ULTIMATELY … we’re OK. We ARE and we WILL BE … forever ……
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Great advice … (thanks, Em!)
I received two emails this weekend from a dear friend and her advice was so timely and loving and gracious that I thought I’d share it with you too … (She wrote a lot more than this, but as I am in the midst of a zillion loads of laundry & cleaning & praying as I try to figure out Soph’s education stuff morning, these are the two thoughts that I keep coming back to over and over again.) My friend Emily reminded me that: – “Christ died for the specific sins being done against me.” (He did. He really did. Who am I to exact payment or revenge beyond…
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Happy Father’s Day!
Happy Father’s Day to my two male blog readers (that I know about)–my beloved hubby, Fred, and my dear friend on the east coast, A.W. I appreciate you both very much! 🙂 AND … I thought you might enjoy a few photos of Sophia at her drumming and art classes this past week. (Fred came for drumming on the last day–Soph was thrilled.) Love to all! — Tara B.
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Don’t discount PMS / hormones … (but don’t use them as an excuse either!) …
I had a horrible day yesterday. One of my lowest in a long time. The last week grew progressively more difficult/challenging and then a surprising and sad event Saturday morning knocked me completely off my feet. Onto my face, again I fall. There are many observations I could make about the combination of factors that went into my (inconvenience? suffering? sadness?) experience, but I’ll just note these few: 1. I think that my hormones are REALLY out of whack. I looked at the calendar and this will be my second cycle since the miscarriage and MAN–I just feel OFF. I’m tempted to not even mention that because I don’t want…
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Lili’s fine–but I thought I might be headed for crutches …
Eeeeek! It is just NOT a good thing to FALL when you’re an out-of-shape 37 year-old. Eek and ouch and watch out for that divot next time! (Was scolding Lili for chewing the raspberry bushes and mis-stepped into a divot and fell. Twisted my left ankle and fell on my twice-surgically-altered right knee and OUCH! But I’m fine–just a little sore.) Oh–and Lili seems to be 100% recovered and back to her cute and only-sometimes-obedient self. (Thanks for the sweet notes of concern and encouragement.) (I’m assuming it was the raspberry bushes that made her sick, poor love.) On the relational-issue-front, I had one of those FREAK OUT ON THE…
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Trying not to panic …
I’m trying not to panic, but Lili (our four month-old Golden Retriever puppy) got violently ill late last night and she just looks so pathetic now that I’m tempted to call the animal hospital in the middle of the night. These are exactly the same symptoms that Choza had–and then she died just a couple of days later (!!!). Fred says, “Give it until morning.” And I’m sure he’s right. And so I shall. But oh! This pet ownership thing. (Sometimes I just have to ask myself, “What were you thinking, Tara!?!” when you got that puppy.) (But I do love her and hope she is just fighting off an…
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Now this is love …
I had a strange but sweet dream last night … I dreamt that Fred and I had been together (courting?) for 17 years–but that we were not yet married. And I was longing to be married to him–and he to me. And we were just about to get engaged or married or something and I woke up. It was strange because, of course, we’re happily married. (Twelve years this August.) But sweet because the dream reminded me of just how much I love Fred and long to be married to him. (So what a gift that I am!) And then I went into our bathroom to start my day and…
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Another sleepless night …
OK. This has got to stop. Third sleepless night in a row. I’m starting to shake a bit. Tried praying. Reading. Even a sleep medicine. No help. Just awake. Thought it might help to journal on my troubled heart–but then I wonder if that’s really edifying? God-centered? Maybe my “troubledeness” is due to too much Tara-focus and “processing” anyway? Would journaling only increase that? Or … is that how I pray? Repent? Believe? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm … Time to break out some PRAISE and stop relying on the faith-walk of OTHERS … But actually live out faith myself. Hope you’re all fast asleep. (Well, except for PalmTreePundit in Hawaii … I’m…
