Friday, September 24, 2010

Untangling the Knots

I haven't written in awhile. I guess it's because I don't feel like I have anything to write about. School is going well. Very smooth and uneventful. I don't have any "cute student stories" to tell. Apartment life has been going well. Very smooth and uneventful. My brother and I both seem to have settled down for the time being. We did have one episode of running around the living room waving our hands in the air, but that was for the neighbors' benefit. (Did I mention we managed to run off two sets of renters? Hmmm...I wonder what's wrong with us? The apartments on either side have been recently vacated.) I'm beginning to adapt to the changes in some of my relationships. Adapt not accept. I have always had a tender, sensitive heart. I love deeply but that means there is the potential to get hurt deeply too. Somewhere along the line, I've learned how to add a layer of protection...but there are some from whom I never thought I would need protecting. I am afraid sometimes about allowing circumstances to make me bitter. I don't want to be that kind of person. I don't want to harden my heart. Those people are not attractive. The ones who live in fear or are wrapped in self-absorption...navel-gazing? Who enjoys their company? Not me. What lives are they reaching? This is my journal blog. I can write whatever I want. There is a little bit of a hard edge around my heart. Please, Lord..."Change my heart, O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like You. You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me...this is what I pray."

Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. (Ps. 51:10)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ez. 36:26)

THEN

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. (Ps. 71:23)

This is a stream of consciousness entry, I think. What is its point? Not sure.

I have a couple of really fun things to which I'm looking forward. Tomorrow I get a 75-minute hot stone massage, complete with foot soak and peppermint scalp treatment. Thursday I'll meet someone new from church as we share dinner with her. Friday I'm going camping. Mmmm...it's nice to have fun things awaiting me.

Well, I guess that's enough for now.

Bloedel Reserve

Green Lake (a couple of years ago)

Friday, September 10, 2010

Back To School

Well, I have the first week of school under my belt. I am enjoying myself much more than I anticipated. My kids are very sweet. How do you beat a standing ovation and a couple boxes of chocolate as a greeting to the school year? They won my heart.

Here are some pictures of the first few days.




Friday, September 3, 2010