Musings by Melissa

My sister got roped into taking senior pictures for someone this year.  Now my sister takes good pictures, but she’s not a photographer.  I’m not either, so I really haven’t been able to offer her much advice other than cloudy days are better because then you’re not fighting shadows.  I suggested going to a big, red old barn that’s in a nearby park and have her “subject” sit in the shadow of the barn.  It’s a nice backdrop.  It’s close.  And wa-la… instant shade!

I told her to look at the bright side of things.  After all, her camera has a smile feature on it.  She can add a better smile with the turn of a dial.  When we were having our senior pictures taken, that wasn’t a thought that ever crossed our minds!

And with all the different photo shop programs out there, stray hairs and acne scar removal shouldn’t be much of a worry anymore.

So, relax, Jen.  You’ll do fine.  Try not to fret.  And we’ll all rejoice when it’s over!  ~grin~

September 18th is the date of our Women in the Outdoor Event.  The planning committee decided that this will be the last time we put together such an event.  So, if you’ve ever wondered what we’re about, or if you’ve been putting off joining us, don’t hesitate any longer.  Please go to http://gvwito.freeshell.org/ or email me for more information.  We’re also on Facebook!  (Women in the Outdoors — West Michigan)

I have the most wonderful husband in the world!  The other day he cleaned our bedroom windows for me!  This is a job I can’t do by myself because the windows all have to come apart, and they are all stuck together.  It’s a real pain.  They hadn’t been cleaned since we moved into the house about five years ago.  (How time flies!)

So, now I can sit at my desk and see clearly what’s outside.  The problem is that we still haven’t gotten blinds for all our bedroom windows.  Oh, we don’t need special, custom blinds.  Just the average, pick ‘em up at Lowes blinds will do.  That’s one of my goals yet for this summer.  To get blinds at the last bedroom window.  Thankfully, our neighbors don’t live too close and I’m still thrilled to have clean windows!  Yahoo!!!

Yes, I know.  ‘Tis July.  But Christmas is six months from yesterday.  Believe it or not!  It’s time to start thinking about what I’m going to make for Christmas gifts.  Wayne and I usually try to give homemade gifts to our kids, and I’m beginning to run out of ideas.  So, any input would be appreciated… greatly!

Along with Christmas gifts comes Christmas parties and Christmas food.  Now I haven’t received any holiday invitations yet, but it never hurts to keep the December calendar up-to-date.  Nor does it hurt to stock up on holiday food when it goes on sale.  Granted I wouldn’t buy the ham now, but pineapple juice would be just fine six months from now.

So, enjoy the rest of your summer, knowing that old man winter is just a few short months away!

One of my friends posted this on Facebook. It was a great way to wake up this morning. This song reveals the heart of true Christianity. Christ alone is Who makes us in to the people He wants us to be. If you belong to Him, He’s working on your life. It’s because of His finished work on the cross that you will be able to stand firm.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, please get it touch with me. Knowing Jesus Christ is the most important thing that’s every happened to me. And I’d love to introduce you to Him!

Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLy8ksqGf9w

Here are the lyrics:

In Christ alone my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease,
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless Babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.

Til on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid,
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay.
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious Day,
Up from the grave He rose again.

And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death.
This is the power of Christ in me.
From a life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Could ever pluck me from His hand,
Til He returns or calls me home.
Here in the power of Christ I stand.

Okay, so I’m reading a news article, and quite often a word will be highlighted in blue, signifying that it is a click-able link.  Sometimes the links made sense.  I know they are going to a site that will teach me more about a certain topic, but other times the words in blue are strange.  I can’t think of what I could ever learn by clicking on them.  They seem to cry out to me, “Click here! click here!”  But alas, I’m afraid that if I do, I’ll get some sort of virus and my computer will self-destruct.  So, I refrain.  (See, I’m learning self-control!  ~grin~)

It’s good to be home.  I have this love-hate relationship with flying.  I love the take-offs and the landings.  I think they’re fantastic, even if they are a little bumpy.  I love watching the countryside far, far below.  I often imagine that what I’m seeing is kind of like what God sees.  Very cool!

But I also have this hate thing going on.  I find myself watching all the other passengers while we’re waiting to board.  Is one of them a terrorist?  Should I have spent more time researching the best term life insurance before making this trip?  Will the plane crash? 

~sigh~

All these concerns.  And yet, I know that I belong to Jesus.  I know that nothing can happen to me unless He permits it to happen.  And so, I trust in Him.  Sometimes it’s easier than others, but then again, I suppose that’s what a growing faith is.  Learning to trust, even in the potentially scary times.

God is good.  I am home!

Carl has officially hit his teen years.  It’s interesting to watch his reactions to things.  Today I caught the first glimpse of hair above his upper lip.  Wow-za!  My kid can’t be that old, can he?!?  He’s got his own deoderant, and he’s getting some pimples.  Oh, how I remember those days!  No fun!  But like everything else in life, I’m sure there’s a pill for it.  Yes, I’m sure there’s such a thing as an acne pill.  Hopefully, he’ll remember to use his soap and the problem will go away.  Then we’ll just have to worry about teaching him to shave.  Hmmm…

Last week was Mother’s Day.  My husband is known for forgetting holidays, so I was completely surprised when I came upstairs Sunday morning and found a tripod in my living room with a note that said “Happy Mother’s Day!”  It’s not a tripod for a camera, but rather it’s a tripod for cooking over the fire.  Needless to say, I’m hoping we get the opportunity to try it out before I leave for Kenya! 

Wayne is planning another fishing trip to Canada this year, and I try to surprise him with getting a big project done around the house while he’s gone.  One year I painted the kitchen floor.  He was flabbergasted when he saw it.  It looks great and was less than $100.  Yahoo!

I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet this year.  Maybe I’ll paint the garage floor with some of that garage floor paint with the flecks in it that make it not so slippery when it gets wet.  Or maybe I’ll find someone to finish up the plumbing job that’s needing to be done in the bathroom that we’ve been working on for years.  (Oh, it’d be nice to have that done!) 

Either way, I love surprising people with things when they least expect it.  And I’ve got a couple months to come up with a good surprise for Wayne.

There are times when I get terrible headaches.  I have one right now.  It just won’t go away no matter what I do.  No, I’m not stressed.  Yes, I’ve been eating on time.  I haven’t been in air conditioning, and while I did spend some time in the sun, I wore my sun glases and my sun visor.  I’ve taken more ibuprofin than I care to admit, and I still have it.  I drank a large glass of water.  And I even drank a couple glasses of Coke, hoping the caffeine would help kick it.  But that’s not the case.

But as is the case, when my head is spinning and pounding things often don’t make the most sense.  I heard an ad for enzyte and wondered who in their right mind… 

Enough of that.

I should just go to bed before I get myself into trouble.  But I need to remember that the tooth fairy needs to come tonight.  Justin finally decided he’s enjoyed playing with his tooth long enough, now he’d rather have the money.  ~smile~  Guess this ol’ tooth fairy better see what she can scrounge up.  Maybe a good night’s sleep will help this ol’ head of mine.

One can hope…