[Small]

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

Life should calm down a bit now. This is good.

I agree unswervingly with the above. Except the 'calm down' part. I was home last evening, but only because play practice was cancelled, and that only on account of the snow.

I have a chocolate croissant craving right now.

I don't. But I could do with chocolate milk.

Here are two things that I don't understand.

1. The insistence of some Christians to fight for their right or freedom to do certain things like cussing or engaging in certain forms of entertainment or wearing certain types of clothing, etc. I just don't understand it. Sure, legalism is not a good thing and that is what they sometimes insist they are fighting, but it rarely seems like a genuine concern.

It strikes me as an odd and ironic form of legalism; they are condemning living with limits, or seeing lifestyle guidelines in scripture, besides which, the legalism argument works only if that's their intended purpose, if their primary reason for engaging in that entertainment is to edify the saints by way of fighting legalism.
Otherwise, they can say it's legalism to force them not to do what they're doing, but they can't say they're...combating it. And even then, it isn't legalism to uphold a clear scriptural principle, and admonish other saints to do the same.

I don't think.

What is interesting is that I rarely see the masses championing personal holiness over personal freedom. Give me my Sex in the City, but don't you dare tell me I should be in the Word everyday, you Pharisee. Someone enlighten me here.

I cannot. You appear as enlightened as anyone, and great deal more enlightened than many.

2. This often goes hand in hand with number one: The challenge to quote a verse of scripture that says exactly what is being argued. Are they serious? Have they not read the Word? Seriously, how often is that done in scripture? I am pretty sure there is no verse that tells me not to use the f-word. Just like I'm pretty sure there is no verse that tells me it's okay. *blink* So what's the point of asking outside of an essentially meaningless debate tactic? Something which I think has no part in discussion amongst Christians.

There are plenty of verses with applicable principles, and plenty of verse-less quotes which apply, and there's something equally annoying about someone making definite theological and God-related statements, with no regard for what scripture says.

That said, I don't think we're discussing that. I don't know. It's like arguing semantics; I'm sure it can prove something, but rarely.

And bottom line, it's frightening to me the thought of people really expecting to discern the Christian life that way. Do we really need everything spelled out for us? Are we not able to understand the spirit of what God calls us to?

Do we need to/Are we not able, I think are the wrong terms for the problem. I think it's more an issue of 'Do we want to'.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I will be making Chocolate Cheesecake Triangles for the Superbowl party. The cancer left and a craving for chocolate took its place. Not even kidding. It's the craziest thing.

Dag, yo.

I need to make some soup today. I have homemade chicken stock. Chicken Tortilla would be good, I think. Especially since it's -20 with the wind chill today. I wish that I had a hot loaf of Small's bread to go with it.

I wish you had one, too. I wish I had one.

Dangitall, I wish everybody had one.

I am still bitter about losing my ginormous update. *squeak*

Understandably.

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

I am going to do this as quickly as I can. *roar*

*bellow of syempathy.

After I check some math...

andnowI'mgoodtogo.

That was remarkably swift.

The Powm For Am Non-Sadness

Catch that rainbow
And do a dance
But please not in your underpants

Clothes are good
Clothes are pretty

Snag that firefly
Make him glow
That is why God made him, yo

Jars are for jam
Not bugs

Love,
Mrs. D

P.S. I did not steal that powm from anyone.

Astonishing. Truly you are a poet of massive proportion.

It ended up being more of a solo project for Zach. He was enamored with microphone. But some of the songs were scary. It's just plain true.

Were they as scary as Eight-Legged Death by Two Ties and a Sock?

Not that you'd really know, but I think we copyrighted that level of scary.

I think he might get a microphone for his birthday. [/whisper]

NO! [/disbelieving] I hope no one notifies the tabloids.

Okay, I'm not right now. Are you?

She is.

He is not. Just so you know. He's just not very good at knowing he should be putting someone at ease. And he's not a phone talker. Except with me. *coo*

We crusty sidekick types smile at things like the last sentence of the above, and the smiles are geniune, even.

Thank you for doing so.

HI, SMALL.

HI, MRS. D!!

You're welcome. It was my pleasure, really.

Thank you for reminding me.

Vindaloo Update:
February 6, 2007
Still no vindaloo. Though I might replace this week's lemon chicken with vindaloo now that I've been reminded.

Okay. We will watch from a great distance with massive eyes. *massive eyes*

Sort of, yes. It's that phenomenon where people bond over a trying experience. WE ARE BETTER PEOPLE FOR HAVING LIVED THROUGH DUSTY POTPOURRI AND FUDGE THAT TASTED LIKE FREEZER. *throws fist in air*

Right. I can't say I bonded with any of the boy scout troop over that experience, but I'm sure it's made me the man I am today. *chuckles*

And the food didn't taste like freezer.

There is a world of difference between flaunting and...shall we call it...a momentary flexing.

Right. Like, Oh, I don't know, wearing short sleeves, and watching the drive-thru worker's eyes widen as the forearm attached to that bulging bicep reaches for your drinks. It's equivalent, I think.

I think has been established, though I use considerably less impressive language to express my thoughts.

One could substitute 'pretentious' for 'impressive' and probably be just as accurate. *grin*

Your grasp of the language ought not be sneezed at.

Remember when you called that one kid an ignoramus? That was funny. [/whisper]

Oh! I do. And I'm so unembarrassed by my usage that I'm not even going to make this a small size. *strikes pose*

Closer. A bit more like running games of Snake Eyes in an alley and sabotaging small businesses that don't sell your best friend's homemade spirits.

Oh.

Doesn't everybody do that?

I KNOW YOU ARE, BUT WHAT AM I?

YOU'RE A VICTIM OF PWNAGE!

Only because I gave it the okay.

Hey! Since I'm a teenager, and Mary, now, do I get to be melodramatic.

Well, I believe that children are our future. *moondances*

I haven't got any. My future looks shaky, eh?

I will only drink out of that cup if you take a drink first.

*Swigs*

See? I'm. Fine. *pale green*

I don't remember where you were then, but you seem kind of gone again. That's okay. Life is *blank* and life is *blank*.

It is, at that. But no. I haven't really been gone. There were only one or two instances in which I was 'gone' instead of online, but the reality of the matter is more to the tune that one of our computers is broken down at the moment, and so any computer-ish things that want done must be done on here, and a great many people want to do things on here, and I tend to be less pushy about getting mine done, or at least, I don't get in line at the right times, or there are people online or on games or writing in the times when I would be showing my face to the assembled. It's a dratted nuisance.

Okay, it's all going downhill from here because I don't remember what you were replying to...BUT I WILL PRESS ON. Or not. I just saw how much there is left to do. And life beckons.

Well, I-

Hmm. I've forgotten what I was replying to, to. I'm sure there were some very valuable things said, but I suppose, were they of lasting value, we'd remember them, so they are left well enough alone in their graves.

Stay sweet...BFF. [/glittery gel pen]

'Kay. *smile*

[/stickers]

[Mara's Mom]

Originally Posted by Small

There are a few others for which we can become known, and all of them are horrible.
Letting sin go is just horrible, anyway. I don't think you become known for any of them necessarily, if you nip them in the bud.

Ughyes. I just can't even think about that right now. Or my mind will be ravaged by myself. I think too much. Which leads us to your next quote...

I think it's probably true, although I'd say that the brutal honesty is a different animal for different people.

Absolutely. I don't struggle with brutal honesty. I struggle with the opposite. Not necessarily in dealing with others. Mainly in dealing with myself. My mind needs to be renewed in the other direction. It's a huge issue and one that I've wrestled with my entire life. Greco-Roman, even.

Day 2 is the best day. The awkwardness of re-introduction from Day 1 has worn away, and the "I'm tired of you' of Days 3-5 (depending) has yet to set in.

I know Day 1. I always had that with my cousins.

With the O's, we just skip Day 1 entirely. It's nice to see long distance friendships hit the ground running. And we really don't experience Days 3-5 until AFTER they are gone. In the din of silence afterwards, there is a satisfied sense of "that was tons of fun, but we are glad to have our Normal back".

I. Well--The Creators never put our truly awful stuff online. *smiles sweetly*

What I heard from the Olders was pretty crazy, though.

Yes, well, some of that got censored by lil' ol' me. [/halo]

Not everyone understands parody. Not everyone understands hardcore/emo/deathmetal. So some things are best left in a dusty corner.

Originally Posted by MtlMom

Okay, it is definitely February.

-8 here.

How are you holding up?

I remember you asking this and I answered in the ginormous reply. I was holding up fine then and I'm holding up fine now. Fine and holding. That's me. Joy and harmony. [/Ian]

The above sounds sarcastic. It's not at all. Just thought I would clarify. *laugh*

Originally Posted by sazahko

Ripped my knuckles open at TKD the other night

Stop that, Sazzy.

Leo and Sophie sparred for the first time at karate. It was fun to watch. Leo knows how to target those vulnerable areas. *cough*

~*~

I am stopping mid-reply. We're taking breakfast to two families this morning and I need to put the finishing touches on that. In other words, I think I burnt the muffins.

*loveandstuff*

[Smaller]

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

I am going to do this as quickly as I can. *roar*

I really feel like I had something spiffy and witty for right here but I can't find it in my brain.

The Powm For Am Non-Sadness

Catch that rainbow
And do a dance
But please not in your underpants

Clothes are good
Clothes are pretty

Snag that firefly
Make him glow
That is why God made him, yo

Jars are for jam
Not bugs

Love,
Mrs. D

P.S. I did not steal that powm from anyone.

I love this powm. It is one of my new favorites. Along with Mister Smalls elephant poem.

They were normalish green. Kind of like grass, but not as green. My drink was kind of a limeish green. Which rhymes with Rhymish. HA.

Where's your daughter?! We should all giggle over this together.

Maybe I should start calling her Limeish because it is rhymish with Rhymish. *sneaky giggle*

I vote that next time you just say them. *raises hand to vote*

Okay! The next time I'm replying to your blog at four in the morning on no sleep I'll go for it!

It ended up being more of a solo project for Zach. He was enamored with microphone. But some of the songs were scary. It's just plain true.

I think he might get a microphone for his birthday.[/whisper]

Oh boy! Some Creators songs are just plain scary. Have you ever heard The Creators Opera? *fiendish giggle*

He shouldn't let his younger siblings play with it. They're such good microphone ruiner persons.[/whisper]

Okay, I'm not right now. Are you?

No, I'm not. I don't know how but everytime I read that I'm still not sleeping happily and I've read it quite a few times. [/angst]

Thank you for reminding me.

Vindaloo Update:
February 6, 2007
Still no vindaloo. Though I might replace this week's lemon chicken with vindaloo now that I've been reminded.

Well...? [/eager]

I don't remember where you were then, but you seem kind of gone again. That's okay. Life is *blank* and life is *blank*.

Pick me! I know all the blankety-blanks!

These things are sent to try us. [/whisper]

Stay sweet...BFF. [/glittery gel pen]

"BFF carved in a treeeee... that stands for BAH! FOOM! FRASH!" *hums merrily*

[Mara's Mom]

Originally Posted by sazahko

From my experience, when I see people behaving in this manner, it's because they want to do whatever they want and hide it under the guise of non-legalism. Then they say that if you try to stop them, you're being legalistic and a bad person. Usually, the people know that what they're doing is considered "wrong", but they just don't care enough to stop, so they find ways to try and get around it being wrong.

I think this can be true sometimes. Lots of times, even. I also think that sometimes people gain an intellectual understanding of God's grace, but don't always know how to incorporate that into a life of personal holiness. We, in our sinfulness and using our finite minds, have a tendency to isolate God's attributes. Especially those that seem to contradict one another. In this case maybe, his gracious yet holy nature.

C.S. Lewis made a really wise, yet simple statement about people on horses that would fit well right here.

Some people just don't get it. Personally, I'm not quite certain why that is. I don't know if they just never listened closely enough, or if they're intentionally ignorant. It probably varies from case to case.

Sinful lot, aren't we? *wink*

I'm very sorry you lost your ginormous update. Shall we mourn it with songs of sadness and ashes sprinkled upon our heads?

That would be fine, but I prefer glitter. Purple and green glitter. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Smaller

How did your Chocolate Cheesecake Triangles turn out? They sound heavenly.

I thought they turned out well. As they always do.

I have a confession to make. They needed to chill for at least an hour before cutting so I put them in the refrigerator at church. And while I was doing that, I thought to myself that I would maybe wait until after halftime to bring them out so that we would maybe have some to take home. Pure, unadulterated selfishness.

I didn't even whisper that. *points up*

And asking about food is never frivolous. Tsktsk.

Originally Posted by MtlMom

I don't understand it either. It's as if they can't see the forest for the trees. They get so caught up in trying to find specific scriptures to confirm or deny what they are trying to profess that they lose the big picture.

Yep. Reminds me of gnats and camels actually. And that is very ironic.

Exactly. *laugh* I should have read this before I started responding.
Just say THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. No, I don't have a specific scripture in mind. I've read the whole thing and I can summarize. I'm smart like that.

You is Biblically edumacated.

We better not, because non-Christians and young Christians are watching us, and it is by seeing Christ living IN us that we can be used as His instruments, not by having "Christ" spewing from our lips while we act like idiots.

*clap*

Mmmm... sounds good. I won't tell you what our weather is like here.

You are a true friend. *laugh*

Cold doesn't bother me as much as heat. Like I always say, you can always put on a sweater, but you can only get so naked.

I am thinking about the "invitation" that will go out to select west coast people about MtlFest weekend. Art has been helping me identify people who are within driving range *cough*sazzy*cough* of the gathering. I hopehopehope that we can get you and Mara here a couple of days before and/or a couple of days after, because I am greedy like that. I think I will create a draft with the facts, then send it to you and Small to give it personality. Hmm. That last part should have been a PM, I suppose. Oh well.

Y'know, I PM'd a response to you about the invitation, but I don't think I did to Small. SO SMALL, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, *THUMBS UP WINK PAT ON BACK*.

The part about *tips imaginary glass* was good. That should have probably been in a PM, too. *wink*

Originally Posted by canguru2

Mrs. D! I just decided that your blog needed another pop-in. Those chocolate cheesecake things sound like triangles of ecstasy, and chocolate doesn't even like me that much.

Maybe you and chocolate need to talk. I could mediate for you. [/generous]

You know how sometimes you mess your words up when you're tired? Do you ever actually type them out all mashed up, or is that just me? I went and typed "like thee matt much" instead of "like me that much", and I say things like that all the time.

All.the.time. You are so my sexy twin. [/scandalous]

Mrs. M said "sexy" in her blog so I figured I could, too.

Originally Posted by Small

Oh, dash it. I don't have time to reply to your post concerning legalism, quoting scripture, and so forth.

I don't remember if you got around to it eventually. I guess I'll find out as I keep replying.

But I bet I will, sometime, when my mind feels razor-sharp.

I vote we see the off-the-cuff version first and THEN we see the razor-sharp version.

WHICH REMINDS ME.

Will you draw a field for me, Small? [/doe eyes]

Will you draw a field for me, Jason? [/hypnotic eyes]

Originally Posted by MtlMom

Oh. my. word.

That last picture - those five boys look like so much fun! I bet you were exhausted. Have you recovered? Has Phoebe?

We had a day of movies and a long nap. And then we had a day of halfway productive. Andthenwewerenormal. *flops arms*

I love those boys. I really want Sophie to marry one of them because Mara never would.

Originally Posted by Ring of a bell

Hi Mrs. D, you are awesome.

No, yooooou're awesome. *tickle*

That is pretty much all I have to say.

Then I will say that I haven't read that website yet.

Next quarter, I get to take a class dealing specifically with Evolution and fun stuff like that! Hurrah!

Wo0t!

Sophie was explaining to me that Charles Darwin disproved spontaneous generation. I have no idea if that's true. [/badhomeschoolmom]

Originally Posted by SieSie

Dear Mrs.D,
Your bean soup was delicious.
sincerely,
Sierra

Thank you, Sierra! I hope it's not to be blamed for Carolena's enlarged appendix.

Originally Posted by Small

I agree unswervingly with the above. Except the 'calm down' part. I was home last evening, but only because play practice was cancelled, and that only on account of the snow.

I'll tell you about my snow if you tell me about your snow.

I don't. But I could do with chocolate milk.

Speaking of chocolate milk, if you want some really good chocolate milk you should go to school at Purdue. *flop*

HERE IT IS, SMALL!

It strikes me as an odd and ironic form of legalism; they are condemning living with limits, or seeing lifestyle guidelines in scripture, besides which, the legalism argument works only if that's their intended purpose, if their primary reason for engaging in that entertainment is to edify the saints by way of fighting legalism.

Now, tell me, how does one determine those limits if it's not spelled out in scripture? Isn't anything NOT explicitly forbidden in scripture okay?

Otherwise, they can say it's legalism to force them not to do what they're doing, but they can't say they're...combating it. And even then, it isn't legalism to uphold a clear scriptural principle, and admonish other saints to do the same.

But what if I don't see the same scriptural principle as my brother in Christ? And doesn't social/societal context determine much of this? AND DIDN'T JESUS HIMSELF USE A HORRIBLE CUSS WORD? [/Kermit arms]

That said, I don't think we're discussing that. I don't know. It's like arguing semantics; I'm sure it can prove something, but rarely.

I'm pretty sure it was relevant.

Do we need to/Are we not able, I think are the wrong terms for the problem. I think it's more an issue of 'Do we want to'.

I'm not so sure. What are you thinking specifically?

Dag, yo.

Mara and I have started saying this. Myself moreso than Mara.

Astonishing. Truly you are a poet of massive proportion.

I know. I am so unappreciated. WHERE'S MY STINKIN' PERRIER?

Were they as scary as Eight-Legged Death by Two Ties and a Sock?

I...I...wouldn't know.

Not that you'd really know, but I think we copyrighted that level of scary.

I'm glad you said this because I was wondering if I should know but just didn't.

Okay. We will watch from a great distance with massive eyes. *massive eyes*

I hope you're still watching with massive eyes.

Right. I can't say I bonded with any of the boy scout troop over that experience, but I'm sure it's made me the man I am today. *chuckles*

Some boy scout you are. Sheesh.

And the food didn't taste like freezer.

That's just wrong.

Story: When I went to girl scout camp, the only time I went to girl scout camp, I had such horrible canker sores in my mouth that I couldn't eat. I remember having tuna salad sandwiches, which are one of my favorites, that almost made me convulse with each bite out of sheer agony. End of story.

Right. Like, Oh, I don't know, wearing short sleeves, and watching the drive-thru worker's eyes widen as the forearm attached to that bulging bicep reaches for your drinks. It's equivalent, I think.

Do you do that, Small? For shame, for shame.

One could substitute 'pretentious' for 'impressive' and probably be just as accurate. *grin*

Maybe, but it's very loveable.

Your grasp of the language ought not be sneezed at.

*sneeze*

Oh! I do. And I'm so unembarrassed by my usage that I'm not even going to make this a small size. *strikes pose*
HA. Small can be evilish. *poke*

YOU'RE A VICTIM OF PWNAGE!

There you go again, making fun of my Indian heritage. For goodness' sake, Small, have a heart. I can't help that I'm 1/32 Cherokee.

'Kay. *smile*

[/stickers]

Ooooh. I hope they're scratch-n-sniff.

I HAVE TO REPLY TO SMALLER LATER. SORRY, SMALLER.

The girls are volunteering at the Family Fun Night at the high school. Leo is cutting pictures of food out of magazines. Ian is taking advantage of the fact that Playstation is allowed on Saturday. Mr. D is reveling in his first successful eBay auction as a seller. And I am going to finish my reading for Sunday school. Because I am very righteous and stuff. Clearly.

[Small]

I HAD A GINORMOUS REPLY, AND IT MADE ME STAY ONLINE SO LATE THAT I COUDLN'T CALL YOUR DAUGHTER, AND THEN CGR ATE IT.
*pouts*

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

Ughyes. I just can't even think about that right now. Or my mind will be ravaged by myself. I think too much. Which leads us to your next quote...

Indeed. I rather understand that feeling of teetering on a completely unpleasant abyss in one's mind.

Absolutely. I don't struggle with brutal honesty. I struggle with the opposite. Not necessarily in dealing with others. Mainly in dealing with myself. My mind needs to be renewed in the other direction. It's a huge issue and one that I've wrestled with my entire life. Greco-Roman, even.

Towards being less brutally honest (in a damaging way) to yourself? I'm not positive I understand what you're saying.

I know Day 1. I always had that with my cousins.

I have it with some of them.

With the O's, we just skip Day 1 entirely. It's nice to see long distance friendships hit the ground running. And we really don't experience Days 3-5 until AFTER they are gone. In the din of silence afterwards, there is a satisfied sense of "that was tons of fun, but we are glad to have our Normal back".

Indeed. I think the post-visitor feeling happens to everyone, and is a great feeling, but one that obviously wouldn't happen without all the massive fun, first.

I like the long-distance friendships when meetings after long periods of time start off with a hug, after which it feels completely natural and expected to have that person be around. Bennett is like that, for instance, or my cousin Kevin. As soon as one of us shows up, we hug, and then move on with life as if this is just how it's supposed to be.

Yes, well, some of that got censored by lil' ol' me. [/halo]

Not everyone understands parody. Not everyone understands hardcore/emo/deathmetal. So some things are best left in a dusty corner.

See, our mother doesn't censor ours. She trusts our judgment. And our worst offenses are limitless songs to the general feel of "We don't like you (the listener)" or things that are too frightful, soundwise, to ever let the light of day fall across their faces.

-8 here.

Rather warmer, here.

Leo and Sophie sparred for the first time at karate. It was fun to watch. Leo knows how to target those vulnerable areas. *cough*

I would've thought the young man would've been more oblivious to such things than the young lady.

It just goes to show, it does.

I am stopping mid-reply. We're taking breakfast to two families this morning and I need to put the finishing touches on that. In other words, I think I burnt the muffins.

That was the morning on which I forgot to set the timer and 'darkened' one batch of my bread. It wasn't quite burnt, but it was definitely more to the brownish side of the board than one typically likes to see out of the garden-variety loaf of Whole Wheat bread.

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

I think this can be true sometimes. Lots of times, even. I also think that sometimes people gain an intellectual understanding of God's grace, but don't always know how to incorporate that into a life of personal holiness. We, in our sinfulness and using our finite minds, have a tendency to isolate God's attributes. Especially those that seem to contradict one another. In this case maybe, his gracious yet holy nature.

It's like the misperception of what God did for us; we are free from sin, not free to sin.

C.S. Lewis made a really wise, yet simple statement about people on horses that would fit well right here.

I don't know it, or I would quote it for you.

Sinful lot, aren't we? *wink*

Heavens, yes.

Y'know, I PM'd a response to you about the invitation, but I don't think I did to Small. SO SMALL, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, *THUMBS UP WINK PAT ON BACK*.

*smiles prettily*

I don't remember if you got around to it eventually. I guess I'll find out as I keep replying.

Ooh. The suspense builds.

I vote we see the off-the-cuff version first and THEN we see the razor-sharp version.

It is too late. I cannot, unfortunately, say that the version you got was entirely razor-sharp, but it was closer than any version I'd whipped out of my pocket at that point would've been.

Which reminds me of a bizarre story my father related about one of his Bible college professors. In his later years, this servant of the Lord found himself with a Sunday evening with no scheduled service at his church, and like many people of his generation, he looked in the newspaper and found a service that looked promising.

That evening, he slipped in the back a moment or two after things had started, and was just settling down when the person speaking at the front said "And I don't see him yet, but [teacher's name] will be bringing us a message this evening."

Anyway, Dad followed that story up by saying that he's fairly sure most preachers have an outline or two with them in mind, at least, at all times, should they be subjected to such failures of their own minds.

WHICH REMINDS ME.

Will you draw a field for me, Small? [/doe eyes]

Will you draw a field for me, Jason? [/hypnotic eyes]

Yes. What kind of field?

I love those boys. I really want Sophie to marry one of them because Mara never would.

No. Will. Not. Happen.

Bassist. [/firm]

Sophie was explaining to me that Charles Darwin disproved spontaneous generation. I have no idea if that's true. [/badhomeschoolmom]

I am disproving the theory that it's a good idea for Sophie to marry one of the O boys.

And you know this is true. Or rather, I'm not disproving that theory so much as I'm saying there is a better idea out there.

I'll tell you about my snow if you tell me about your snow.

Mine is very cold, and very dry, and very slippery, and in general, not what you want from snow.

Speaking of chocolate milk, if you want some really good chocolate milk you should go to school at Purdue. *flop*

No. I'm not going to Purdue, I don't think. I will satiate my longing for good chocolate milk elsewhere.

HERE IT IS, SMALL!

*dance of wild enthusiasm *

Now, tell me, how does one determine those limits if it's not spelled out in scripture? Isn't anything NOT explicitly forbidden in scripture okay?

One determines by taking the philosophical principles of scripture and applying them to parallel cases in the modern world. It is an error of massive proportion to assume that the Bible is a book of Letter-type laws.

But what if I don't see the same scriptural principle as my brother in Christ? And doesn't social/societal context determine much of this? AND DIDN'T JESUS HIMSELF USE A HORRIBLE CUSS WORD? [/Kermit arms]

If you have thoughtfully considered and come to a different conclusion regarding the scriptural principle, that's okay. We can disagree and move on, but it is another matter if you're simply adopting whatever theology your flesh would like to.

Social context determines some of the applications of the principles, it doesn't change the principles themselves. For instance, modesty means something different in different cultures, but it doesn't mean that we shouldn't do whatever we view as modest.

He may have. Swearing isn't necessarily wrong.

I'm pretty sure it was relevant.

You would think so, though, because we have similar thought processes, much of the time.

I'm not so sure. What are you thinking specifically?

When I see in myself the attributes of people you were describing above, it is normally because I'm willfully not seeing what I should see, or not discerning what I should discern.

Mara and I have started saying this. Myself moreso than Mara.

Dag, yo. Did I get you started on it, or was it Strongbad?

I know. I am so unappreciated. WHERE'S MY STINKIN' PERRIER?

When our much-hyped hip-hop duo takes the stage at MtlFest, everyone will appreciate our freestyle skillz.

I...I...wouldn't know.

Not yet, but it is scary. The song is loosely about a man who watches his girlfriend be eaten alive by spiders, and then goes insane.

I'm glad you said this because I was wondering if I should know but just didn't.

As I said, not yet. We're still working on it.

I hope you're still watching with massive eyes.

I am. Huge ones, at that. They are enormous and doe-y.

Some boy scout you are. Sheesh.

I was a killer boy scout. Except I couldn't swim, so I could never advance, and I did try, hard, to learn how to swim, but it never happened, so I got tired of not advancing and dropped out. It was kind of sad, I had some good friends in that troop.

That's just wrong.

Story: When I went to girl scout camp, the only time I went to girl scout camp, I had such horrible canker sores in my mouth that I couldn't eat. I remember having tuna salad sandwiches, which are one of my favorites, that almost made me convulse with each bite out of sheer agony. End of story.

That's...Terrible. I've never had canker sores quite that badly.

Do you do that, Small? For shame, for shame.

My biceps are such that I only trot them out for comedic purposes.

Maybe, but it's very loveable.

I shan't stop, then.

*sneeze*

Just what are you sneezing at, young lady?

HA. Small can be evilish. *poke*

Your daughter normally renders it as "You're being mean."

And I'm never as mean to her as I was to him. *grin *

There you go again, making fun of my Indian heritage. For goodness' sake, Small, have a heart. I can't help that I'm 1/32 Cherokee.

You're just taking advantage of the fact that Mennonites are somewhat politically incorrect to use me as a vindication of your participation in our culture of victimization.

LIBERAL MEDIA!

Ooooh. I hope they're scratch-n-sniff.

Strawberry. *nods*

The girls are volunteering at the Family Fun Night at the high school. Leo is cutting pictures of food out of magazines. Ian is taking advantage of the fact that Playstation is allowed on Saturday. Mr. D is reveling in his first successful eBay auction as a seller. And I am going to finish my reading for Sunday school. Because I am very righteous and stuff. Clearly.

Aha. I can think of nothing better to say than "Aha". [/Rabbit]

[canguru2]

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

Maybe you and chocolate need to talk. I could mediate for you. [/generous]

You would do that? For me?

All.the.time. You are so my sexy twin. [/scandalous]

Mrs. M said "sexy" in her blog so I figured I could, too.

I'm pretty sure you adopted me once upon a time, so now I probably have the best title ever. "Hi, I'm Mrs. D's sexy twin slash daughter." And then people would pay to bask in my glow or maybe paint my fences for me. YEAH!

You're cool, Mrs. D. YOU'RE ONE COOL CAT.

[Mara's Mom]

Originally Posted by Smaller

I love this powm. It is one of my new favorites. Along with Mister Smalls elephant poem.

Do share. I don't know that one. *sits primly*

Maybe I should start calling her Limeish because it is rhymish with Rhymish. *sneaky giggle*

I think she likes lime green, too. So it might work.

Oh boy! Some Creators songs are just plain scary. Have you ever heard The Creators Opera? *fiendish giggle*

I have not had the pleasure. Again, do share. I want to giggle fiendishly.

He shouldn't let his younger siblings play with it. They're such good microphone ruiner persons.[/whisper]

Cat and chairs with wheels are good microphone ruiners as well. True story.

No, I'm not. I don't know how but everytime I read that I'm still not sleeping happily and I've read it quite a few times. [/angst]

How about now? Are you sleeping happily now?

Well...? [/eager]

Vindaloo Update:
February 13, 2007
Valentine's Day Eve

Still no vindaloo. Went ahead with the lemon chicken. It was a good call. No regrets. Except that there is still no vindaloo. Overandout.

Pick me! I know all the blankety-blanks!

I choose...*scans blog*...*points*...SMALLER!

These things are sent to try us. [/whisper]

But we shall persevere. [/whisper]

"BFF carved in a treeeee... that stands for BAH! FOOM! FRASH!" *hums merrily*

I haven't heard that one!

For some reason this reminded me of the time that I slammed a very large boy into a tree on purpose. And I tore his chapel shirt. And just generally beat him up on the playground. He was very big and I was not. But I was angry. Bruce Banner angry.

Originally Posted by Small

I HAD A GINORMOUS REPLY, AND IT MADE ME STAY ONLINE SO LATE THAT I COUDLN'T CALL YOUR DAUGHTER, AND THEN CGR ATE IT.
*pouts*

I wondered about that, non-caller. *poke*

Indeed. I rather understand that feeling of teetering on a completely unpleasant abyss in one's mind.

I believe that you do understand. *gentle smile*

Towards being less brutally honest (in a damaging way) to yourself? I'm not positive I understand what you're saying.

I apologize for that very confusing statement on my part. I meant that I don't need to worry about NOT being brutally honest with myself. I do quite well in that department. In fact, it is quite possible to push brutal honesty beyond the bounds of Truth into the land of Just Plain Brutal. I have taken too many vacations there. I have thousands of little paper umbrellas to prove it.

I like the long-distance friendships when meetings after long periods of time start off with a hug, after which it feels completely natural and expected to have that person be around. Bennett is like that, for instance, or my cousin Kevin. As soon as one of us shows up, we hug, and then move on with life as if this is just how it's supposed to be.

Yes. I imagine that is an important connection to make after so many months of long distance. Hugs have a way of breaking that physical tension. I remember having a similar discussion with Andrew when we thought that we would meet. I was giving him fair warning. Suffice it to say: Y'ALL NEED TO EXPECT A HUG WHEN I SEE YOU.

Gah! Gotta go. *sprinkles love on blog*

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by Carol

Suffice it to say: Y'ALL NEED TO EXPECT A HUG WHEN I SEE YOU.

Good. Now they are all forewarned.
Right now my left sidearm hug is broken. For months now I haven't been able to lift my left arm out to the side, so it makes for some awkward moments when people come to that side and put their arm around me. I can either stand there and do nothing, or I can try to hug the person - and the arm goes just high enough that my hand ends up right where they sit down. Oh yes, I am not kidding. SO IF I RUN AROUND TO YOUR OTHER SIDE TO HUG YOU, THAT IS WHY.

[Small]

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

How about now? Are you sleeping happily now?

She is.

Vindaloo Update:
February 13, 2007
Valentine's Day Eve

Still no vindaloo. Went ahead with the lemon chicken. It was a good call. No regrets. Except that there is still no vindaloo. Overandout.

Stay strong, colonel. Stay strong.

But we shall persevere. [/whisper]

What Smaller should have said was this:
"These things are sent to try us. [/Inspector Battle]

I haven't heard that one!

Teen Girl Squad #10, I believe.

For some reason this reminded me of the time that I slammed a very large boy into a tree on purpose. And I tore his chapel shirt. And just generally beat him up on the playground. He was very big and I was not. But I was angry. Bruce Banner angry.

You are an inspiration, except, as time goes by, I continue to get larger, which is a dashed odd experience to someone who was always used to being the shortest kid in class. *sigh*

I wondered about that, non-caller. *poke*

I did call; she didn't answer, because she wanted to go to bed, and didn't feel well. I left a long, rambling voicemail.

I believe that you do understand. *gentle smile*

Hey, hey, hey!

*dance of understanding*

I apologize for that very confusing statement on my part. I meant that I don't need to worry about NOT being brutally honest with myself. I do quite well in that department. In fact, it is quite possible to push brutal honesty beyond the bounds of Truth into the land of Just Plain Brutal. I have taken too many vacations there. I have thousands of little paper umbrellas to prove it.

I would've thought they gave you a little Cat o' Nine, not a little paper umbrella.

It's easy to take questioning oneself there, to be certain, and while it's not fun, it can certainly be addictive.

Yes. I imagine that is an important connection to make after so many months of long distance. Hugs have a way of breaking that physical tension. I remember having a similar discussion with Andrew when we thought that we would meet. I was giving him fair warning. Suffice it to say: Y'ALL NEED TO EXPECT A HUG WHEN I SEE YOU.

It's odd; for the longest time, I would never touch anyone. It just wasn't a part of who I was, (it's still an effort, much of the time) and neither did Bennett, but now we're both at least more comfortable with physical interaction with others. In fact, I scare one or two of my friends who find guy-on-guy contact to be disturbing.

They don't, I don't think, understand geniune friendly affection. *chuckle*

I would've warned you of the same, had you not warned me first. I'll give you this warning:
Y'ALL NEED TO EXPECT A DANCE OF CELEBRATION WHEN I SEE YOU!

Gah! Gotta go. *sprinkles love on blog*

Go with speed and peace!

[Mara's Mom]

Some Valentine's Day math:

Love(Love) + Time Constraints = The Following Post

This is for the people who know who they are. *clears throat*

A Heart Powm Fo Joo

Twitter, twitter
Patepatepate
I think you are
Fun and Great

Pitter, pitter
Patpatpat
I loves you
But please get off my lap

BREAKITDOWN!

*throws down phat beat*

Herewego...

My name is Ci'mon
Yeaaaaah
I like your styyyle
Yeaaaaah
You be so funkay
Yeaaaaah
You make me grin.from.ear.to.ear

*blows whistle*

STOP!

Let's
take
this
dooooown

Who luvs ya', baby? [/Barry White]
But not like that. [/inlovewithMr.D]




Now just pretend this has been delivered to all of your blogs. *hug*

[PatrickStar4491]

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

Some Valentine's Day math:

Love(Love) + Time Constraints = The Following Post

This is for the people who know who they are. *clears throat*

*insert Mrs. D's really long heartfelt poem*

Now just pretend this has been delivered to all of your blogs. *hug*

Oh my! A poem in my blog! Thank you very much. I'm going to try and keep up with your blog now.

[MtlMom]

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

Some Valentine's Day math:

Love(Love) + Time Constraints = The Following Post

This is for the people who know who they are. *clears throat*

A Heart Powm Fo Joo

Twitter, twitter
Patepatepate
I think you are
Fun and Great

Pitter, pitter
Patpatpat
I loves you
But please get off my lap

BREAKITDOWN!

*throws down phat beat*

Herewego...

My name is Ci'mon
Yeaaaaah
I like your styyyle
Yeaaaaah
You be so funkay
Yeaaaaah
You make me grin.from.ear.to.ear

*blows whistle*

STOP!

Let's
take
this
dooooown

Who luvs ya', baby? [/Barry White]
But not like that. [/inlovewithMr.D]




Now just pretend this has been delivered to all of your blogs. *hug*

That was lovely. *wipes tear*

I HOPE THAT YOU EAT ICE CREAM TODAY. It's very important to do that on Valentine's Day, you know. [/tradition]

[Mara's Mom]

I would like the record to reflect that this post was typed at approximately 3:30 in the morning. And then my internet got busted.

~*~

PRE-VALENTINE'S DAY REPLY

I think this is where I left off...

Originally Posted by Small

See, our mother doesn't censor ours. She trusts our judgment. And our worst offenses are limitless songs to the general feel of "We don't like you (the listener)" or things that are too frightful, soundwise, to ever let the light of day fall across their faces.

Things became a bit complicated when I wasn't the actual mother of the actual performer and said performer sang something about killing his parents and then posted it on a mySpace and then directed every single person on his AIM to said site. Yeah. I wasn't down wid dat. There are times when we must intervene. I am fairly confident this was one of those times.

Besides, we wreaked enough havoc exposing the six year old O-Boy to the Revelation 21:8 song. *blink*

Rather warmer, here.

And how is it today? Our computer says that it's zero degrees at present. If the nine degree forecasted high actually happens, I predict seeing people in light windbreakers and shorts. Amazing how one or two degrees is so easily felt when it gets cold enough. Even Mara was talking about how balmy six degrees was the other day. Yesterday was downright bitter.

Snow Update: What we are lacking in overall volume (maybe seven inches accumulation) we more than make up for in longevity (the ground has been white for a solid month which is atypical), ice (a lot of intersections are still death traps) and crispiness (one might die if they were to fall head first in this stuff).

Backyard Update: Two small trails from our cat who meowed in discomfort the entire way. The door to the clubhouse has been open for two weeks because no one wants to close it. All manner of wildlife are probably making residence there at this point.

Front Yard Update: Stonehenge Iowa Style

I would've thought the young man would've been more oblivious to such things than the young lady.

It just goes to show, it does.

I'm not sure what it goes to show, but I do know that certain self-defense techniques have been an unpleasant eye-opener for our sometimes violent, yet still sweet and genteel Sophie. She truly didn't know. But now she does. And she needs to be good and convincing at it to earn her first belt.

That was the morning on which I forgot to set the timer and 'darkened' one batch of my bread. It wasn't quite burnt, but it was definitely more to the brownish side of the board than one typically likes to see out of the garden-variety loaf of Whole Wheat bread.

Sometimes things look more homemade that way. It's a known fact.

It's like the misperception of what God did for us; we are free from sin, not free to sin.

Bingxactly.

I don't know it, or I would quote it for you.

Which reminds me of a bizarre story my father related about one of his Bible college professors. In his later years, this servant of the Lord found himself with a Sunday evening with no scheduled service at his church, and like many people of his generation, he looked in the newspaper and found a service that looked promising.

That evening, he slipped in the back a moment or two after things had started, and was just settling down when the person speaking at the front said "And I don't see him yet, but [teacher's name] will be bringing us a message this evening."

Anyway, Dad followed that story up by saying that he's fairly sure most preachers have an outline or two with them in mind, at least, at all times, should they be subjected to such failures of their own minds.

Let me get this straight. [teacher's name] was the very same professor sitting there in the back seemingly by random chance? How delightfully serendipitous! I love that story.

Yes. What kind of field?

Farm. Excluding the obvious farmy things like tractors and stuff. Think meadow scene minus the meadow. Plowed farmland, specifically.

There is a point to all of this. It involves a living room wall. Possibly. If my mind's eye can be achieved.

No. Will. Not. Happen.

Bassist. [/firm]

Oho! We're being that way, are we? I'm quite confident you would have to take down Mrs. O to pull off your plan.

Interestingly enough, several mothers/fathers/siblings/personsingeneral have called dibs on a certain brown-eyed ninja. It's quite amusing. 'Course she is supercute and stuff.

Mine is very cold, and very dry, and very slippery, and in general, not what you want from snow.

WE ARE SNOW TWINS, SMALL.

No. I'm not going to Purdue, I don't think. I will satiate my longing for good chocolate milk elsewhere.

Well, fine. But their's is really good. The boys would drink two full glasses at each and every meal. They convinced me to try it. Good grief. It was like drinking chocolate cream. I shudder to think how many calories and grams of fat were consumed in just chocolate milk that week.

One determines by taking the philosophical principles of scripture and applying them to parallel cases in the modern world. It is an error of massive proportion to assume that the Bible is a book of Letter-type laws.

I'm not sure I would describe it as 'philosophical', but I see exactly what you're saying. Letter-type laws are actually Spirit-type laws and are quite easily seen when considered through the whole counsel of the Word and God's revealed nature. I am with you, Small.

it is another matter if you're simply adopting whatever theology your flesh would like to.

Which happens more than we realize and, dare I say, is a natural part of our walk with Christ. Probably not in the way you are specifically emphasizing. But we most certainly are going to confidently live by certain acquired theology at times only to find that we were misguided all along. It's bound to happen as He becomes more and we become less.

This reminds me of a most wondrous and exhilarating thought. It came to me a couple of weeks ago. I have always thought that All would be made known to us in glory. But, how could this be? He will still be infinite and mysterious and too much for us to fully grasp. Yes, He will be more accessible, but that is not the same as fathomable. Maybe this seems elementary, and I don't quite know why I was convinced of my original belief in the first place. Probably from so many times hearing people say, "Well, one day when we're in heaven we will understand."

He may have. Swearing isn't necessarily wrong.

It's a little nebulous, isn't it? *laugh*

Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a good example of this.

When I see in myself the attributes of people you were describing above, it is normally because I'm willfully not seeing what I should see, or not discerning what I should discern.

The significance is in the 'willfully'.

Dag, yo. Did I get you started on it, or was it Strongbad?

You, kind sir. *smile*

Not yet, but it is scary. The song is loosely about a man who watches his girlfriend be eaten alive by spiders, and then goes insane.

That is not so lovely sounding. *laugh*

I was a killer boy scout. Except I couldn't swim, so I could never advance, and I did try, hard, to learn how to swim, but it never happened, so I got tired of not advancing and dropped out. It was kind of sad, I had some good friends in that troop.

That is sad. Can you swim now?

Mr. D used to swim with two empty milk jugs on a rope. His dad rigged it up for him. He told me that the other day and I laughed hysterically at the mental picture.

My biceps are such that I only trot them out for comedic purposes.

And THAT is another funny mental picture.

"Okay, guys. Time to lighten the mood. Hop on up."

And I'm never as mean to her as I was to him. *grin *

That is good for both your soul and your wellbeing. *laughcough*

You're just taking advantage of the fact that Mennonites are somewhat politically incorrect to use me as a vindication of your participation in our culture of victimization.

Mennonite Schmennonite.

LIBERAL MEDIA!

DOG SHOW!

Originally Posted by canguru2

You would do that? For me?

I would, Sarah. I would. This is me, we're talking about, remember? Me. *thumps chest*

I'm pretty sure you adopted me once upon a time, so now I probably have the best title ever. "Hi, I'm Mrs. D's sexy twin slash daughter." And then people would pay to bask in my glow or maybe paint my fences for me. YEAH!

Or maybe they would paint your fences and pay to pay to bask in your glory. I think it's a very real possibility. Let's go on a cruise with the money, mkay?

You're cool, Mrs. D. YOU'RE ONE COOL CAT.

DO YOU KNOW THE ARISTOCATS SONGS? Everybody wants to be a cat...because a cat's the only cat who knows where it's at...? That song is Adore.

Originally Posted by MtlMom

Good. Now they are all forewarned.
Right now my left sidearm hug is broken. For months now I haven't been able to lift my left arm out to the side, so it makes for some awkward moments when people come to that side and put their arm around me. I can either stand there and do nothing, or I can try to hug the person - and the arm goes just high enough that my hand ends up right where they sit down. Oh yes, I am not kidding. SO IF I RUN AROUND TO YOUR OTHER SIDE TO HUG YOU, THAT IS WHY.

That is a sad condition, but again, a funny mental picture. Darn that shoulder of yours.

Originally Posted by Small

She is.

Okay. IS SHE NOW?

Stay strong, colonel. Stay strong.

Will do. Still no vindaloo. [/powet]

You are an inspiration, except, as time goes by, I continue to get larger, which is a dashed odd experience to someone who was always used to being the shortest kid in class. *sigh*

I was the tallest girl and taller than many of the boys in 6th grade. I was all of a sudden short in 7th grade. That part has just stuck with me. I also used to be a really fast sprinter. Not so much now.

I did call; she didn't answer, because she wanted to go to bed, and didn't feel well. I left a long, rambling voicemail.

I LISTENED TO THAT. And laughed. I mean, you have an amazing singing voice, Small. *blink*

*dance of understanding*

I would like to learn this dance of understanding. How does it go?

I would've thought they gave you a little Cat o' Nine, not a little paper umbrella.

Ironic, isn't it?

It's odd; for the longest time, I would never touch anyone. It just wasn't a part of who I was, (it's still an effort, much of the time) and neither did Bennett, but now we're both at least more comfortable with physical interaction with others. In fact, I scare one or two of my friends who find guy-on-guy contact to be disturbing.

I haven't always been a hugger. I touch forearms a lot. And hands. I don't know why. Maybe I need better boundaries. *laugh*

I would've warned you of the same, had you not warned me first. I'll give you this warning:
Y'ALL NEED TO EXPECT A DANCE OF CELEBRATION WHEN I SEE YOU!

Yay!

~*~
My computer is being dumb. CGR has been rather dumb lately as well. Dumb as in 'non-working'.

I hab uh code. That's why I'm awake. Because sleep is so not important when you're sick. *rolls eyes*

Actually, the dry cough and the overactive mucous production are to be blamed. Three nights of NyQuil are my max. After that it makes me jittery and awake.

It has dropped two degrees since the beginning of this post.

I need to be up in two hours to bake muffins, have family devotions, exercise and go to Bible study. Two hours is definitely worth trying to go back to sleep.

When I saved this in Works, it was 5 pages long. That’s plain crazy. *blink*

[Small]

Originally Posted by Mara's Mom

I would like the record to reflect that this post was typed at approximately 3:30 in the morning. And then my internet got busted.

I know that hour! I and it go back quite awhile. We communed this morning, in fact. Although at the time, I was reading my Bible, and consequently couldn't spare 3:30 much attention. Obviously offended, it spent only a minute in my company, before stalking haughtily away.

It'll be back though, I know it. It can't stay away.

Things became a bit complicated when I wasn't the actual mother of the actual performer and said performer sang something about killing his parents and then posted it on a mySpace and then directed every single person on his AIM to said site. Yeah. I wasn't down wid dat. There are times when we must intervene. I am fairly confident this was one of those times.

Besides, we wreaked enough havoc exposing the six year old O-Boy to the Revelation 21:8 song. *blink*

Oho! Yes. I think The Creators and Two Ties and A Sock are more...passively offensive than that. I can see how intervention was justified and necessary.

Oh, dear.

And how is it today? Our computer says that it's zero degrees at present. If the nine degree forecasted high actually happens, I predict seeing people in light windbreakers and shorts. Amazing how one or two degrees is so easily felt when it gets cold enough. Even Mara was talking about how balmy six degrees was the other day. Yesterday was downright bitter.

My computer is saying that at Don Scott field in Dublin, it is -2 F, with a windchill of -17, and the temperature hereabouts tends to be about 5 degrees colder than it is at Don Scott.

I know. I think humidity and wind have a lot to do with it, as well. Yesterday wasn't bad, in comparison to some of the other days, or at least, I didn't think so, but yesterday was sunny with relatively little wind.

Snow Update: What we are lacking in overall volume (maybe seven inches accumulation) we more than make up for in longevity (the ground has been white for a solid month which is atypical), ice (a lot of intersections are still death traps) and crispiness (one might die if they were to fall head first in this stuff).

Ah, we are somewhere close to the same boat, although we had approximately an inch for a good while, sitting and basking in the dreadful chill, but Monday/Tuesday dumped another 8.5 inches. We also have had snow for a surprisingly long time, and have had more of it than we normally do. A typical Ohioan winter is far more likely to involve slush and ice than straight-up snow.

The plows roundabouts here have done astonishingly well. The roads aren't bad at all.

The crust is definitely killer.

Once, though, when there was a much thicker and harder crust than there is now, I went sledding at my friend Patrick's house. We do this periodically, and every time, Patrick and I hold contests in which we see who can come undone in the most spectacular and cinematic fashion while flying down the hill. It was my turn, and I decided to set myself up in such a way that nature taking its course would naturally lay waste to me. So I clambered onto his tobbogan and, holding tightly to the yellow twine string, descended whilst standing.

I was more than halfway down, most of the way, I think, when I came to the shocking realization that I wasn't going to fall naturally. My sense of balance had gotten spectacular just when I needed it to be horrible; if I was to have a fabulous wreck, I must manufacture it.

So I stepped off the side of the sled. My foot, quite naturally, caught in the crust and what happened next was precisely what the word "faceplant" was created to describe, without being able to stop or catch myself, I slammed down.

I couldn't see when I rose and opened my eyes. My face was numb, cold, and burning, all at once. We left soon thereafter, and my sight was restored enough to see my face in the rearview mirror, red as a setting sun.

Ah, the old days.

Backyard Update: Two small trails from our cat who meowed in discomfort the entire way. The door to the clubhouse has been open for two weeks because no one wants to close it. All manner of wildlife are probably making residence there at this point.

I WANT TO CLOSE IT!

Front Yard Update: Stonehenge Iowa Style

Oh, my. You haven't got any druids hanging about, have you?

I'm not sure what it goes to show, but I do know that certain self-defense techniques have been an unpleasant eye-opener for our sometimes violent, yet still sweet and genteel Sophie. She truly didn't know. But now she does. And she needs to be good and convincing at it to earn her first belt.

Well. At least the unpleasant eye-openers were useful.

Sometimes things look more homemade that way. It's a known fact.

Yes, but I'm still struggling with the 'hideously ugly loaf' epidemic, which makes the loaves afflicted with it look as if not only are they homemade, but they were homemade by an incompetent wretch.

Let me get this straight. [teacher's name] was the very same professor sitting there in the back seemingly by random chance? How delightfully serendipitous! I love that story.

Yes. Precisely. He randomly decided to attend an evening service at which he was scheduled to preach.

Farm. Excluding the obvious farmy things like tractors and stuff. Think meadow scene minus the meadow. Plowed farmland, specifically.

There is a point to all of this. It involves a living room wall. Possibly. If my mind's eye can be achieved.

I shall set myself to it, so I shall.

Oho! We're being that way, are we? I'm quite confident you would have to take down Mrs. O to pull off your plan.

Interestingly enough, several mothers/fathers/siblings/personsingeneral have called dibs on a certain brown-eyed ninja. It's quite amusing. 'Course she is supercute and stuff.

I'm not calling dibs, I'm just saying that things being what they are in this world, some things were just meant to be, and this is one of them.

Pssh, I will introduce myself to Mrs. O, who will look at me reproachfully until I say, "Mrs. O, this is my younger sister A------. She would be happy to meet your recently rejected son."

At which point she will realize again how often and strangely things work out for the best in this cruel world.

WE ARE SNOW TWINS, SMALL.

YEAH! WE SHOULD CELEBRATE, SOMEHOW! I KNOW! I'LL REPLY TO YOUR E-MAIL!

Well, fine. But their's is really good. The boys would drink two full glasses at each and every meal. They convinced me to try it. Good grief. It was like drinking chocolate cream. I shudder to think how many calories and grams of fat were consumed in just chocolate milk that week.

I'm sure I could design an alternative on my own and just go to college somewhere else and be mightily happy.

My mom buys chocolate milk instead of white on occasion, because while it has more sugar, it definitely has less fat.

I'm not sure I would describe it as 'philosophical', but I see exactly what you're saying. Letter-type laws are actually Spirit-type laws and are quite easily seen when considered through the whole counsel of the Word and God's revealed nature. I am with you, Small.

Precisely.

Which happens more than we realize and, dare I say, is a natural part of our walk with Christ. Probably not in the way you are specifically emphasizing. But we most certainly are going to confidently live by certain acquired theology at times only to find that we were misguided all along. It's bound to happen as He becomes more and we become less.

Right. I am of the opinion that at least most of us will be surprised on entering heaven and finding that this or that stance was wrong, but what is maddening to me is my inability to know what stance of mine is a mistake, now.

This reminds me of a most wondrous and exhilarating thought. It came to me a couple of weeks ago. I have always thought that All would be made known to us in glory. But, how could this be? He will still be infinite and mysterious and too much for us to fully grasp. Yes, He will be more accessible, but that is not the same as fathomable. Maybe this seems elementary, and I don't quite know why I was convinced of my original belief in the first place. Probably from so many times hearing people say, "Well, one day when we're in heaven we will understand."

Oh, yes. I've thought about that, and I think it comes to Him being the only thing that'll keep us from getting bored with living forever.

At the same time, I think we'll know a great deal More.

It's a little nebulous, isn't it? *laugh*

Diary of a Mad Black Woman is a good example of this.

It is nebulous, and I haven't seen that, although I know I'm supposed to, and keep it in the back of my mind, should an appropriate time come.

The significance is in the 'willfully'.

Indeed.

You, kind sir. *smile*

Dag, yo.

That is not so lovely sounding. *laugh*

Actually, Kirdan has a lovely voice, and he does the lion's share of the vocalization. He also manages to sound tormented and insane on the screaming portion, because I taught him how to scream without hurting his lovely voice, even though I am unable to do it.

That is sad. Can you swim now?

I can, kind of. Not very well at all.

Mr. D used to swim with two empty milk jugs on a rope. His dad rigged it up for him. He told me that the other day and I laughed hysterically at the mental picture.

His father was quite inventive, from the sound of it. Although the image of the Mr. D I have seen in photographs swimming with milkjugs is, one is obliged to confess, a hoot.

And THAT is another funny mental picture.

"Okay, guys. Time to lighten the mood. Hop on up."

More like "HA! WELL CHECK THESE OUT!"
"Ew. I've never seen someone's bones like that."

That is good for both your soul and your wellbeing. *laughcough*

Mm. Mara normally doesn't say ludicrous and ignorant things about my grammar, either. That said, I sometimes break rules of grammar and vocabulary for the sake of effect.

I wasn't doing that, though, when he accused me of having bad grammar.

Mennonite Schmennonite.

I always knew those Evangelical Free people were like this. *tilted nose*

DOG SHOW!

FRENCH FIGURE-SKATING JUDGE!

Okay. IS SHE NOW?

YES!

Will do. Still no vindaloo. [/powet]

It doesn't matter; your day will come. (SEE THAT, ZACH? THAT WAS A SEMICOLON, AND I USED IT APPROPRIATELY!)

I was the tallest girl and taller than many of the boys in 6th grade. I was all of a sudden short in 7th grade. That part has just stuck with me. I also used to be a really fast sprinter. Not so much now.

Yes, and suddenly, I am this tall, gangly thing, and I'm not used to it.

Yeah, but you're 37. In comparison to when you were say, 17, you ought to be a bit slower.

I LISTENED TO THAT. And laughed. I mean, you have an amazing singing voice, Small. *blink*

There are a variety of meanings to the word "Amazing" and not all of them mean "heavenly". *chuckle*

I would like to learn this dance of understanding. How does it go?

It's somewhat complicated. Basically, one fine morning you rise from your bed, and your thoughts turn to the Dance of Understanding, and you epiphaniously know how to do it. It can't be taught.

All the same, I can try, in California.

Ironic, isn't it?

At least they have some decency.

I haven't always been a hugger. I touch forearms a lot. And hands. I don't know why. Maybe I need better boundaries. *laugh*

I don't think it really matters.

Yay!

Oh, yes.

My computer is being dumb. CGR has been rather dumb lately as well. Dumb as in 'non-working'.

Yes, I've been having similar problems with this manifestation of the online world, and what's most frustrating about it is the fact that my nine-day absence some months ago was supposedly on account of banishing to the realms of dreadful memories the habitual malfunction of CGR, and instead, it's been as bad as it ever was.

I'm somewhat disgruntled.

I hab uh code. That's why I'm awake. Because sleep is so not important when you're sick. *rolls eyes*

Somnobulance is always important, but when one is sick, one is half-asleep most of the time anyway.

Actually, the dry cough and the overactive mucous production are to be blamed. Three nights of NyQuil are my max. After that it makes me jittery and awake.

Aha. A much better explanation.

It has dropped two degrees since the beginning of this post.

It has remained steady, here.

I need to be up in two hours to bake muffins, have family devotions, exercise and go to Bible study. Two hours is definitely worth trying to go back to sleep.

Indeed it is, shoo, shoo, shoo!

When I saved this in Works, it was 5 pages long. That’s plain crazy. *blink*

Word.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

CGR can be like Dennis Rodman in it's functioning, As bad as it wants to be.

Given that, we need a 9 day absence of Dennis Rodman. So the question is, who is he?