Sunday Reflections

I've decided that if I had my life to live over again, I would not only climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets; I wouldn't only jettison my hot water bottle, raincoat, umbrella, parachute, and raft; I would not only go barefoot earlier in the spring and stay out later in the fall; but I would devote not one more minute to monitoring my spiritual growth. No, not one.

--Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though Go were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Cor 5:17-21

Game of Croquet

I am trying to take it easy these days. We have both grandmothers here and they enjoying the grandkids.


Nothing like a good game of Croquet on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Emma excite about Grandma's hit.

Where is the ball going?

We are having a great time with the grandma's.

Ruptured (Herniated) Disk

It started slowly last Saturday. Lower back pain. I didn't think much about it and then it got worse at night. The funny thing is that I did nothing during the day that you would think would cause this. I spent most of Sunday in pain but I was able to move around. Monday was about the same then I was starting to feel better on Tuesday. While I was on the phone with a friend standing on our backyard deck it all of a sudden hit me. I could not move at all. I was just standing there listening to my friend talking and everything locked up. I know it was time to call the doctor. I called Fil right away and he left work to take me to see the doctor. I was not able to stand up after I managed to get to the sofa. At this point I had no idea where the kids were. They got me in to see the doctor right away and the verdict from the Doctor was

Ruptured (herniated disk)

I was in a lot of pain. We have company coming this Friday. I have many things going through my mind, taking it easy was not one of them. I got some 'drugs' and as of this afternoon I can move around again :) I can still feel it but just being able to go to the bathroom is a huge relief. I am 'trying' to take it easy for next few days. All the kids are a big help and they are trying to get everything ready that needs to be done. Fil was able to take some time off so he is on the run with most of the kids. Wednesday is our very busy day (he made it to Emma's ballet class and even got her ballet slippers on). Now he is gone with the boys at their activities.

I am praying that the pain will go away in time with pain medication. Believe it or not there is not much rest recommended with it. I mean I have to rest but move once in a while as strict bed rest would weaken the back even more.

So anyway that is what I am up to now (not much).

Here are some family pictures from this weekend (for our last post placement report).

(He still LOVES me :) and I him)

FB world

I finally did it. I joined the world of FB (Facebook). Let me tell you it is a crazy world and it eats your time like crazy. You can spend way too much time on it. I also discovered that all those people who stopped blogging are very busy on FB. On the other hand I found long lost friends. That is the good thing about it.

Lenka Steiger's Profile

Create Your Badge

I am not planning on leaving the blog world but you can find me on FB (and Fil).

And yes I have lower back problems. I am hardly moving at this point. The best cure is rest but with four kids and company coming this weekend .... .

My Latest Project

Several months ago while I was browsing the blog world I came across Sandi Henderson's web site. Her fabric is full of energy and when I saw her patterns I knew it was for my girls. Everyone who has met our Emma knows she is a girlie girl. She is a tough cookie (thanks to her brothers) but she will always wear pink and dresses (and skirts).


Anyway I ordered the Analise Sewing pattern and made a skirt immediately for Emma.

Let me tell you it is worth the money. Emma loves it and so do I.

Jo wanted wear Emma's skirt so it did not take me a long time to start making matching dresses for both girls (from the same pattern).

The steps in the patterns are very detailed and they helped every step of the way.

As you can see the dresses are big hit and I cannot wait to make some more.

The girls did not want to take them off last night and wanted to dance all evening outside.

They did pose for some pictures as well.

And showed daddy their new outfits.

Every daddy's dream :)

Sunday Reflections

I say to you, Blessed is he who exposes himself to an existence never brought under mastery, who does not transcend, but rather abandons himself to my ever-transcending grace. Blessed are not the enlightened whose every question has been answered and who are delighted with their own sublime insight, the mature and ripe ones whose one remaining action is to fall from the tree. Blessed, rather, are the chased, the harassed who must daily stand before my enigmas and cannot solve them. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who lack a spirit of cleverness. Woe to the rich, and woe to the doubly rich in spirit! Although nothing is impossible with God, it is difficult for the Spirit to move their fat hearts. The poor are willing and easy to direct. Like little puppies they do not take their eyes from their master's hand to see if perhaps he may throw them a little morsel from his plate. So carefully do the poor follow my promptings that they listen to the wind (which blows where it pleases), even when it changes. From the sky they can read the weather and interpret the signs of the times. My grace is unpretentious, but the poor are satisfied with little gifts.

--Hans Urs Von Balthasar "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Matthew 5:3-7

Lenka

Did you know I have my own CD? About two months ago I found this CD at a local bookstore. I grabbed it and ran up to Fil singing that I got a my own CD.

We listened to some of her songs and as you can see we ended up getting the CD.


This Lenka (the singer), by the way, is from Australia.