Our “Little” Storm
We had some really intense storms last night that spawned tornadoes in South Dakota before crossing the border into Minnesota and hitting us. I ended up with all four kitties under the covers with me.
Freya: nestled into my left armpit
Edda: nestled into my right armpit
Cullen: at my feet
Finian: on my belly with his elephant paws pressing on my gallbladder(!!!!!)
Jon slept through it (as Ambien is a VERY cool thing) but I was awake as it started just as I was falling asleep. It’s one of the worst storms I’ve been through in my life — I fully expected tornado sirens to go off. Freya was actually in my study on the filing cabinet when it started and I think she actually saw the evergreen tree snap because she started freaking out and running all over the house. I caught her and stuffed her under the covers (thus beginning my undercover cat collection) and she shivered until it was over (as did the others). Our power was out for awhile and I had to light candles in several rooms to be able to see enough to get to the bathroom. (Not that the lightning flashes weren’t bright enough…)
The evergreen in our front yard
A branch dangling in the backyard
Our neighbor’s tree
A tree in town
Clothing Joys
I got a Lands’ End gift certificate from my brother for my birthday and ordered some clothes. I got them yesterday and had to send them back. Why, praytell?
BECAUSE THEY WERE A SIZE TOO LARGE!!!!!
Apparently, I’ve dropped from a Large to a Medium. Happy Jen!!!!
Protected: I Hate Being Sick
Things I’ve Learned In The Last Few Days
[+] Soy cheese does not work with a diseased gallbladder.
[+] Communion wafers/bread work wonders to calm nausea. (I was the altar guild person this morning, so I was consuming some of the leftovers.)
[+] Walking is good for the soul and also for working off the myriad of popsicles from the last few weeks.
[+] There is nothing better than a grilled chicken sandwich with tomatoes, onions, and pickles and a big bottle of Sundrop when eating for the first time after being nauseous for 24 hours.
[+] Minnesota mosquitoes are more vicious than black mambas and their bites are much more unpleasant.
[+] Rain is nice… for a few days. After that, one prays to move to a desert.
[+] Crocheting is the greatest stress release if walking isn’t available.
[+] Boldly-striped tabby cats are the best bed companions when one is fighting a gallstone attack.
[+] Because my body is broken and I am a sinful being, I crave those things (like cheese, pizza, bacon, grease, curry, burgers, etc) that cause me illness and pain.
Because I’m Nosy This Way…
For all my readers who are Christian:
What do you use for devotions/quiet time/bonding with Jesus?
Leave your answers in the comments.
Books That Changed Me
When my friend Crystal interviewed me on LJ, she asked me the following question:
4. What are the top five books that have most influenced your life?
I decided to take my answers to that question in the interview and expand on it.
[+] The Bible: I’m Christian so this should be a natural answer. I’ve been asked before what my favorite book is (Psalms) and what book I hate most. My answer to the latter part of the question is that I don’t hate any of the books of the Bible. While that sounds all happy-clappy, it’s the truth — there are parts that mess me up inwardly and I would be worried if they didn’t. As I grow in my relationship with Christ, things that were difficult for me to understand become clearer and as I mold my will to be like that of Christ’s, those things that caused me conflict get reconciled and resolved. As one of my seminary professors said, “the Gospel is life-changing — the only problem is that it means that our lives have to change.”
[+] What’s So Amazing About Grace?: Another book that completely messes me up inside. I think that every Christian should be required to read this book. It is an amazing treatment of what grace_ is and what it would look like if the world showed grace_ to people in the same way that Jesus did. I read it yearly and I get something new out of it each time.
[+] The Jesus I Never Knew: This one didn’t move me as much as as What’s So Amazing About Grace? did; but it still has the capacity to cause me inner discomfort. I’ve read it twice now (it’s one of those “read yearly” books for me) and each time, I’ve been drawn to something new in the character of Jesus Christ.
[+] The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Prayer: This book is the BEST book on prayer that is on the market. It’s exclusively on Christian prayer but it does an amazing job of explaining what prayer is, why we pray, some ways of praying, dealing with problems in prayer, and even giving some sample prayers. I don’t think anyone is too advanced in the practice of prayer to read it.
[+] The Chronicles of Narnia: I constantly see examples from these books in my life. I’m starting to read them yearly as I get some pretty interesting insights about my faith from them. I also found that my professors used examples from them in my seminary classes.