Childs Eye View of Love

A cool little piece found through my wandering through blogs ...

Child's Eye-View of Love

Recently my youngest daughter, Eden, sent me a list of quotes that came from little children. Each child was asked to describe what love meant to them. Their answers were, at times, quite intriguing.

One in particular, from a four year old boy named Billy, has stuck with me. He said, When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.

That thought seems to say it all: When someone loves you . . . your name is safe in their mouth.

Behold this clarity of vision as love is defined by a little child. When we truly walk in Christ's love, those around us will be safe -- and others will see the love of Christ that controls us. Beloved, to walk in covering love is to show ourselves truly acquainted with Christ. Let us ask God, Father, show me my heart. Is Your love ruling, even in the unseen areas of my life? Are the names of others safe in my mouth?

Road Trip: Paulina Lake

It was hot and smokey here in Chiloquin, so my son Shay and I loaded up the car and headed out on another road trip! In Central Oregon, a little southeast of Bend, is a little known treasure called Newberry Crater. At some point in prehistory, the top of the mountain collapsed in on itself, leaving a large depression. Within this depression two lakes have formed, East Lake and Paulina Lake. And here is where we ended up ...

Paulina Creek Falls is located just west of Paulina Lake outside Newberry Crater. This double falls drops 60 feet onto the jumble of rocks below. The jumble of rocks is the result of the falls slowly eroding their way upstream. ( I imagine that eventually it'll work its way upstream to Paulina Lake, then its bye bye lake. lol) The upper viewpoint overlooks the falls from the south side of the creek. The lower viewpoint is accessed via a quarter mile trail down to the creek below the falls.

Here is Paulina Peak being reflected in Paulina Lake.

We checked out East Lake to see if we wanted to camp there, but alas, no dogs allowed on the beach and it just wouldn't be right tying up Charlie Dog.

Shay showing off his mushroom hat!

It was an excellent adventure to get away from the smoke and there is still a lot more to explore here for sure!

Grandson Pix!

Time for some Grandpa braggin' ... Here is the latest picture of my Grandson Francis and son Ben!

Wild Iris

Love Should Grow Up Like a Wild Iris in the Fields

Love should grow up like a wild iris in the fields,

unexpected,

after a terrible storm,

opening a purple mouth to the rain,

with not a thought to the future,

ignorant of the grass and the graveyard of leaves around,

forgetting its own beginning.

Love should grow like a wild iris but does not.

Love more often is to be found in kitchens at the dinner hour,

tired out and hungry,

lingers over tables in houses where the walls record movements,

while the cook is probably angry,

and the ingredients of the meal are budgeted,

while a child cries feed me now and her mother not quite hysterical says over and over,

wait just a bit,

just a bit,

love should grow up in the fields like a wild iris

but never does really startle anyone,

was to be expected,

was to bepredicted,

is almost absurd,

goes on from day to day,

not quite blindly,

gets taken to the cleaners every fall,

sings old songs over and over,

and falls on the same piece of rug that never gets tacked down,

gives up,

wants to hide,

is not brave,

knows too much,

is not like an iris growing wild but more like staring into space in the street

not quite sure which door it was,

annoyed about the sidewalk being slippery,

trying all the doors,

thinking if love wished the world to be well,

it would be well.

Love should grow up like a wild iris,

but doesn't,

it comes fromthe midst of everything else,

sees like the iris of an eye,

when the light is right,

feels in blindness and when there is nothing else is tender,

blinks,

and opens face up to the skies.

~ Susan Griffin ~

Being Right!

Some thoughts going through my mind over the past few days ...

Christianity can be a real challenge for me, as Jesus calls us to accept our mistakes. Accepting is not the same as excusing, however much the two things may get confused in my head. I am what I do, and I cannot hide from that. But darn ... I really want to be "right." Even more difficult, Jesus asks His followers to admit that we cannot do anything about our mistakes without the loving grace of God.

Grace is a foreign element for people who like to be right, as it means trusting in God instead of in yourself alone. (That’s not easy when you secretly think that God should hand over the managerial duties of the universe to you.) A friend at work (whose name I cannot spell lol) helped me to realise this when he said, “It is more important to be kind than to be right.”

This jolted me. I thought of Jesus’ words: “Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness.” There is surely a difference between the righteousness that Jesus makes a priority and merely being right, a difference that Paul elaborates on in his first letter to the people of Corinth:

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Corinthians 13:2, 4-5

Once you know this, it gets easier to be generous with other people and not chalk up their mistakes on some private slate. It ceases to matter whether you were in the wrong or in the right, or possibly a mixture of both. St John of the Cross, a Spanish mystic who suffered imprisonment and persecution for his faith, wrote that, ”In the evening of life we will be judged on our love.” He was drawing on the Bible’s teaching that faith, hope, and love are the only things that will last into eternity, ‘and the greatest of these is love’.

Have a most blessed evening everyone!

The Pirate Ten Commandments

This one is a bit unusual ... The Pirate Ten Commandments

1. Avast on all other gods, an' avast on them graven images too.

2. Don't be usin' My name unless ye mean it, or I'll 'ave ye walk the plank.

3. Remember who provides yer swag and booty and show yer gratitude every week.

4. Don't be disrespecting yer Mum and Da, ye mutinous whelps.

5. Avast on killin', ye scurvy knaves.

6. Stow yer oar where it belongs, if ye get my meanin'.

7. Keep yer grubby mitts off of swag that ain't yers.

8. Tell the truth or I'll 'ave ye keelhauled.

9. Don't be wantin' to moor to someone else's berth.

10. Don't be wantin' someone else's lad or wench or booty.

The Grace Prayer

The Grace Prayer

For Thee I thirst.
Into Thy hands I commit my spirit,
My soul, my body, my life,
This problem, all unforgiven states.
Thy will is my will.
Thy will be done through me.
Heal me at depth.
Reveal that which needs to be revealed.
Heal that which needs to be healed
So I can glorify You, God,
And live in the fullness of grace.
It is finished.

By Reverend Debbie Tyson

Have a blessed evening everyone!

Tim

An Optimist .... And a Pessimist

The Optimist vs. the Pessimist

An optimist sees the best in the world, while a pessimist sees only the worst. An optimist finds the positive in the negative, and a pessimist can only find the negative in the positive.

For example, an avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.

He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog. As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. They fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet.

This continued all day long; each time a duck fell, the dog walked across the surface of the water to retrieve it.The pessimist watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word.

On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?"

"I sure did," responded the pessimist. "He can't swim."

Looking at an old picture ....

Have you ever seen an old picture of yourself as a kid and then look to some of the things you turned out to be.

I did last weekend ...

I stumbled over an old picture, of years ago and felt a sense of memory of all the innocence of youth.

The warm summers evenings playing round with your friends, all the funny things we did.

Even though I was a little terror at times, (so I've been told, I never really thought so ) I was still just a kid.

even though there was all the problems around me I knew no better, and just had dreams of the future.

But now when I look back to all the no so good things and accounts that I did and became; the things I done to others, the things I've done to myself even. I realize there is no way I can turn back the clock.


Isn't it just great the way Jesus just comes into our lives and makes amend of all the terrible things we have done ...

Just some thoughts ...

Have a most blessed day and weekend everyone!

Tim

A Prayer in the Morning

O Lord Eternal and Creator of all things,
Who of Thine inscrutable goodness didst call me to this life;
Who didst bestow on me the grace of Baptism
and the Seal of the Holy Spirit;
Who hast imbued me with the desire to seek Thee,
the one true God: hear my prayer.

I have no life, no light, no joy or wisdom;
no strength except in Thee, O God.
Because of my unrighteousness I dare not raise my eyes to Thee.
But Thou didst say to Thy disciples,
'Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receives
and 'Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do'.
Wherefore I dare to invoke Thee.
Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit.
Teach me to pray aright.

Bless this day which Thou dost give unto me,
Thine unworthy servant. By the power of Thy blessing
enable me at all times to speak and act to Thy glory
with a pure spirit, with humility patience, love,
gentleness, peace, courage and wisdom:
aware always of Thy presence.

Of Thine immense goodness, OLord God, shew me the path of Thy will,
and grant me to walk in Thy sight without sin.

OLord, unto Whom all hearts be open,
Thou knowest what things I have need of.
Thou art acquainted with my blindness and my ignorance,
Thou knowest my infirmity and my soul's corruption;
but neither are my pain and anguish hid from Thee.


Wherefore I beseech Thee, hear my prayer
and by Thy Holy Spirit teach me the way wherein I should walk;
and when my perverted will would lead me down other paths
spare me not, O Lord, but force me back to Thee.
By the power of Thy love, grant me to hold fast to that which is good.
Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul;
from every impulse unpleasing in Thy sight
and hurtful to my brother-man.
Teach me what I should say and how I should speak.
If it be Thy will that I make no answer,
inspire me to keep silent in a spirit of peace
that causeth ncithcr sorrow nor hurt to my fellow
Establish me in the path of Thy commandments
and to my last breath let me not stray from the light of Thine ordinances,
that Thy commandments may become the sole law of my being
on this earth and in all eternity

Yea, Lord, I pray Thee, have pity on me.
Spare me in mine affliction and my misery
and hide not the way of salvation from me.

In my foolishness, O God, I plead with Thee for many and great things.
Yet am I ever mindful of my wickedness, my baseness, my vileness.
Have mercy upon me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence because of my presumption.
Do Thou rather increase in me this presumption,
and grant unto me, the worst of men,
to love Thee as Thou hast commanded,
with all my heart, and with all my soul,
and with all my mind, and with all my strength:
with my whole being.

Yea, O Lord, by Thy Holy Spirit,
teach me good judgment and knowledge.
Grant me to know Thy truth before I go down into the grave.
Maintain my life in this world until I may offer unto Thee worthy repentance.
Take me not away in the midst of my days,
nor while my mind is still blind.
When Thou shalt be pleased to bring my life to an end,
forewarn me that I may prepare my soul to come before Thee.
Be with me, O Lord, at that dread hour
and grant me the joy of salvation.
Cleanse Thou me from secret faults,
from all iniquity that is hid in me;
and give me a right answer before Thy judgment-seat.

Yea, Lord, of Thy great mercy
and immeasurable love for mankind,

Hear my prayer.


[Archimandrite Sophrony(Sakharov) the disciple of St. Silouan
from the book On Prayer published by the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Tolleshunt Knights, by Maldon, Essex CM9 8EZ, England ISBN -1-674679-14-2]

I can't stop falling in love with you!

Some worship lyrics by Steve Green I just had to share this evening! How can one not smile after this?

Tim

BETTER THAN LIFE

Better than the riches of this world,

Better than the sound of my friends' voices,

Better than the biggest dreams of my heart,

and that's just the start

Better than getting what I say I need,

Better than living the life that I want to,

Better than the love that anyone could give,

your love is

Pre chorus

And you hold me now in your arms and never let me go,

You Oh Lord made the sunshine, the moonlight in the night sky,

You give me breath and all your love, i give my heart to you because,

Chorus

I can't stop falling in love with you,

I'll never stop falling in love with you.

Road Trip: Through The Sage To Harris Springs, California!

It was time for one of those mini camping road trips as snow is to fly soon! This time it was just me and Charlie dog going out and about to see whats out there. We were going to Martins dairy campground but hunting season has opened up in the Klamath National forest so we decided to veer east. And am I glad we did! Harris Spring is a great out of the way primitive campground located in the Shasta Trinity National Forest, and we had it to ourselves! This campground is centrally located by Burney Falls, Lava Beds National Monument and the Medicine Lake Highlands. The Medicine Lake Shield Volcano, about 10 miles south of Lava Beds National Monument, is one of North America’s most unusual geological features. At about 20 miles in diameter, it is the largest volcano in California. Its gently sloping profile hides the fact that, in mass, it is larger than nearby Mount Shasta. This sprawling area northeast of California Highway 89 contains extensive lava flows, cinder cones, pumice deposits, and lava tubes. It would take weeks to explore all of this, but alas, we only had a day so off we went …


Off we went through Butte Valley, California painted yellow with sagebrush. I love going out with the camera on these changing weather days as one doesn’t really know what to expect. Yep … we did get some rain!

I didn't get this! What on earth was this pink house in the middle of nowhere??? Back in the day I'm sure it was mighty fine! But Pink??? lol

Made it to our campsite near Harris Spring Fire Guardstation. This historic Forest Service Guard Station is located in a open meadow surrounded by forest in the northeast portion of the McCloud Ranger District of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The guard station and garage were built in 1929 or 1930 and retain their Craftsmen style character which was a popular building style in the 1920 and 1930’s. Both buildings retain many of their original features including shiplap siding, tongue and groove interior walls, and wood sash windows. You can rent this place to stay, but at $500 a week I think I’ll pass …

On our way back home we went through the Medicine Lake Highlands. Here is Little Glass Mountain which is an obsideon flow. Its amazing trees can grow in this stuff!

We also went by for a little break at Little Medicine Lake. The fish were jumping and I didn’t bring a fishing pole. Sheesh!

I’ll be heading back this way again next year … This time with family and friends!

Avshalom & Rebecca/The Last Kiss Was Missing

A true story ... A tearjerker even ... In 1915, Sarah Aaronsohn fell for the handsome & dashing Avshalom Feinberg. But she was heartbroken when fell in love with Sarah's, Aaron's and Alex's younger sister (who is not mentioned in the Wikipedia excerpt) Rebecca. He and Rebecca courted and, just before Avshalom set off on his fatal mission to Egypt, agreed to marry after the war. He said that he would come back to her; she said that she would wait for him. Avshalom, of course, never returned.

Rebecca was inconsolable. She never married ... The only knowledge regarding Avshalom Feinberg's fate was the testimony of Lishansky, a team member. He said that he & Feinberg were caught in the crossfire when their Bedouin guides became involved in a gunfight with local Bedouin (from another tribe) near Rafiah. He said that Feinberg was shot and killed.

Fast forward about 50 years. In 1967, after the Six Day War, the Israel Defense Forces established a military government in Sinai. IDF military government officers in the Rafiah area learned that a certain date palm in the area was referred to by the locals as kubr yehudi, "Jewish grave." They went to investigate and, lo and behold, discovered Avshalom Feinberg's remains (which were subsequently positively identified). The date palm had (in the 50 years since his death) sprouted from dates that Feinberg was carrying in his pockets when he was killed. The tree's roots were entwined around his bones. Feinberg's remains were re interred with full military honors at the IDF cemetery on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. An elderly and frail Rebecca Aaronsohn was present and was given the flag that draped Feinberg's coffin. She passed away a few years later.

This is such an incredible story which gives even me watery eyes! He said that he would come back to her and he did; she said that she would wait for him and she did. I cannot help but think that now, at last, thanks to God in His great mercy, that Avshalom Feinberg and Rebecca Aaronsohn are together and that he is giving her the thousand kisses that he wrote about so beautifully.

Elef Neshikot, A Thousand Kisses

First kiss on your white forehead

like a bond in the middle of your figure

and from it come out in glowing abundance

of kisses to your hair

like a crown of pearls made of kisses

I will rain down on the ebony of your curls

that you'll be my beautiful girl

the perfect princess of all the girls in the city.

A thousand kisses to you my love

a thousand a kiss and a kiss

a thousand kisses to you my dear one

so small, so sweet and beautiful.

And also to your ivory white innocent neck

flexible like the neck of a swan

I will cover in chains of kisses

girl of (pure) water, my little one

and right now I'll just put my head on your shoulder

in order to find in it your heartbeat

and kisses for no reason too without lust or limit l

ike flowers thrown by a bride.

A thousand kisses to you my love

a thousand a kiss and a kiss

a thousand kisses to you my dear one

so small, so sweet and beautiful.

The sky isn't in front of my sinful eyes

and I'm not indulging in you till I'm fully satisfied

The light isn't in front of my impure lips

and my chest is scorched until the end

thousandth kiss is not possible, love

the last kiss is missing

only 999

sweet thundering kisses

but still I'll kiss you a thousand kisses.

A thousand kisses to you my love

a thousand a kiss and a kiss

a thousand kisses to you my dear one

so small, so sweet and beautiful.

~Avshalom Feinberg's

Psalm 20

I try to avoid doing what I once heard referred to as “bible bingo” (throwing open the bible for some random, out of context inspiration) but sometimes it happens. While it doesn’t usually work, a couple of days ago I played bingo in the book of Psalms. I’ve been feeling kind of low and stressed and needed to hear a comforting, prophetic word and wasn’t sure what I should read. BINGO! I landed on Psalm 20 and I have been reading it several times a day this week. It has been a blessing, an encouragement, and a strength. I thought you might need it too.

Psalm 20

A David Psalm

1-4 God answer you on the day you crash,

The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harm's reach,

Send reinforcements from Holy Hill,

Dispatch from Zion fresh supplies,

Exclaim over your offerings,

Celebrate your sacrifices,

Give you what your heart desires,

Accomplish your plans.

5 When you win, we plan to raise the roof

and lead the parade with our banners.

May all your wishes come true!

6 That clinches it, help's coming,

an answer's on the way,

everything's going to work out.

7-8 See those people polishing their chariots,

and those others grooming their horses?

But we're making garlands for God our God.

The chariots will rust,

those horses pull up lame

and we'll be on our feet, standing tall.

9 Make the king a winner, God;

the day we call, give us your answer.

Have a blessed evening everyone!

Tim

Tim, The Messy Christian

Some thoughts that have been on my mind for awhile now that I would like to share with you this evening ........ If I was going to write a book, this would be the title--Tim, the Messy Christian. It's amazing to me that so many believers pretend to have it all together--all sorted out and tied up in a pretty bow. So many put on a happy face for Sunday morning and they talk the usual Christianese...all the while hiding from what they're really feeling or wishing they could say or tell someone about. What I'm curious about is why do so many messy Christians pretend to be all put-together? I wish I had happy thoughts about church and how it helps people. Right now I have trouble with it. I've seen some really great Churches too but I've seen so many times that the church shuns the messy people--they're just not really welcome. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you." How many people did Jesus shun or turn away? How many people didn't feel good enough to be near Him or not welcome around Him? NONE. Jesus surrounded Himself with a rather motley crew of guys (and women too) who were basically nobody's by the worlds standards. These men, He would later call His disciples. Jesus welcomed tax collectors and prostitutes--those shunned by the world but important to Him. He welcomed children, whose presence was seen as a bother or burden--even to His disciples. To me, Jesus' mandate to love as He loved is clear. We need to follow His lead and love the messy people.

I've in the past pretended for a long time...but longed for a place where I can be me and come with all my issues--big and small--to a place that draws out healing and life and the Spirit of the Living God in one another. I don't want to be a part of a 'shiny' church, I want to be part of a community that is real and raw and life-giving. I'm not a cynic--I long for revival and life in the church and I believe it is possible, in fact in places it is happening. But it is possible only if we're willing to confront our weaknesses and stop pretending to be all put-together. We have to acknowledge that we are messy believers who don't have it all figured out, and we have to have that modeled from the leadership of our churches. Brokenness and humility and weakness are not signs of a bad Christian or a bad leader, they're signs of a real Christian--a real leader. So what are we afraid of? I don't know about you, but I'm drawn to the idea of messy Christians openly acknowledging their messiness and their need for their Savior. That's me, as best I can describe myself: a messy Christian who is daily in desperate need of and in love with his Savior.

Bumper Stickers To Relate To

If You Can Read This, I Can Slam On My Brakes And Sue You

Forget World Peace -- Visualize Turning Off Your Turn Signal!

HANG UP AND DRIVE!

Where There's A Will...I Want To Be In It!

Ever Stop To Think, And Forget To Start Again?

If We Quit Voting Will They All Go Away?

This Bumper Sticker Exploits Illiterates

Eat Right, Exercise, Die Anyway

He Who Laughs Last Thinks Slowest

He Who Hesitates Is Not Only Lost, But Miles From The Next Exit

I Haven't Lost My Mind - It's Backed Up On Disk Somewhere

Road Trip: Portland, Oregon

We just got back from our vacation! We had a great time, relaxing, checking out the zoo (The zoo has over a thousand specimens representing two hundred species, 21 of which are endangered) and Portland Art Museum to check out the fantastic works of M.C. Escher! The Portland Art Museum is the oldest museum of its kind in the region founded in 1892.

And of course there was ... Munching out ... watching TV ... You could say I was "happily slacking" on lots of stuff while we were away.

I'll be back to what passes for regular posting soon ...

Prayer of A Clown

A little bit different prayer ...

As I stumble through this life,

help me to create more laughter than tears,

dispense more cheer than gloom,

spread more cheer than despair.

Never let me become so indifferent,

that I will fail to see

the wonders in the eyes of a child,

or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.

Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people,

make them happy,

and forget momentarily,

all the unpleasantness in their lives.

And in my final moment,

may I hear You whisper:

"When you made My people smile,

you made Me smile."

-Anonymous-

Have a blessed evening everyone! Tim

Vacation!

Melissa, the kids and I are packed and ready to go on a mini vacation to Portland, Oregon! We've been looking forward to this for a few weeks! We will be checking out the Escher exhibit at the Portland Art Museum and also the Zoo on Monday. (Hannah is head over heels about the latter!) We'll be back late Tuesday evening. I said mini vacation after all. See you then!

Tim

St Anselm Returns!

O Lord my God,

Teach my heart this day where and how to see you,

Where and how to find you.

You have made me and remade me,

And you have bestowed on me

All the good things I possess,

And still I do not know you.

I have not yet done that

For which I was made.

Teach me to seek you,

For I cannot seek you

Unless you teach me,

Or find you

Unless you show yourself to me.

Let me seek you in my desire,

Let me desire you in my seeking.

Let me find you by loving you,

Let me love you when I find you.

St. Anselm

Amen! Have a blessed evening everyone! Tim

Cell Phone Vent!

A mini vent ... Almost had a car accident yesterday ... Somebody with a cellphone meandered into my lane. If you are emotionally and physically unable to talk and the phone and pay attention to the traffic around you, do not use the phone! I am talking even if you have a head set or hands free capability. I am talking about those in-duh-viduals ... Do this test. Go to an empty parking lot, set up orange cones. Get on the phone and start talking then weave in and out of cones and if you can do it without knocking over a single cone, then feel free to use your cell phone when driving.

Thank you! Tim

I have just the present moment ...

Something to share which has more meaning for me since the heart attack last April ....

I may never see tomorrow ; there's no written guarantee,

And things that happened yesterday belong to history,

I cannot predict the future, I cannot change the past,

I have just the present moment, I must treat it as my last.

I must use this moment wisely for it soon will pass away,

and be lost to me forever as part of yesterday,

I must exercise compassion, help the fallen to their feet,

Be a friend unto the friendless, make an empty life complete.

The unkind things I do today may never be undone,

And friendships that I fail to win may nevermore be won,

I may not have another chance on bended knee to pray,

And thank God with humble heart for giving me this day.

Author Unknown

The Duggars Rolling Out #19!!!

Make That 19 Kids and Counting: Duggars Expecting Another Child

Reality show mega-family The Duggars just announced on 'Today' that they are adding a new face to the family, their 19th child.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who along with their brood star on TLC's '18 Kids and Counting,' appeared on the NBC morning show with their whole family to deliver the news. They told Meredith Vieira they're "so excited about our new arrival." Michelle, 42, is 3 months along in the pregnancy.

In a fun set of circumstances, the new baby will have a niece that is OLDER than him or her. Oldest son Joshua James and his wife Anna are expecting a daughter, to be named Mackynzie Renee, in October.

The eight girls and ten boys all have names starting with "J" >>

Joshua James, 21 -- expecting a daughter with his wife. Jane Marie, 19 John-David, 19 Jill Michelle, 18 Jessa Lauren, 16 Jinger Nicole, 15 Joseph Garrett, 14 Josiah Matthew, 13 Joy-Anna, 11 Jedidiah Robert, 10 Jeremiah Robert, 10 Jason Michael, 9 James Andrew, 8 Justin Samuel, 6 Jackson Levi, 5 Johanna Faith, 3 Jennifer Danielle, 2 Jordyn-Grace, 8 months

http://www.popeater.com/2009/09/01/duggars-baby-news/


Not that anyone asked me ... It seems to me that they might consider adopting children instead of just making more at this point. They have some kids of their own to pass on their family name and genetic line. Here in Arkansas where I live, there are lots of kids in foster care and/or state custody that need either a temporary home or a permanent family. If the Duggars still have extra time, money, love, and guidance that they want to share with more little ones, why not share it with ones that are already in the world and in need of a family?

Lord, Make me more like my dog!

I'm not all that big of a dog man really, but I've been finding doggie things all over the place of late. Maybe God is telling me something ... hmmmmmm

Anyways, had to share this one.

Tim

Wagging his tail and waving his paws

With squeaky ball held in his jaws

With no thought of what's gone before

My puppy greets me at the door.

As I get home from night shift job

I'm bothered by this little slob

Who steals my socks and eats my shoes

Ignoring all his rawhide chews.

Yet for all the scolding, training,

Short nights sleep and entertaining

And all the trouble he gets in

he doesn't care, it's not a sin!

As many times as I've scolded him

Or smacked his behind for being dim

The puppy loves me anyway

He doesn't care, he's here to stay.

Someday I hope to be worthy you see,

Of the faith that my dog has in me.

I wonder sometimes if I were him

Would I be a good puppy?

Sometimes I think that God gave us dogs

As a lesson in attitude, because they're always there

We people can be crabby, ungrateful, or rude

But if you have a dog, odds are he doesn't care.

Some days I wonder, when I'm bored

If Jesus did walk through my door

Would I take the time to notice during my busy day?

I know my dog would, He'd probably wanna play.

Lord I ask with this humble prayer

As I watch my Schnauzer sleep on the chair

With all the faith that the world is right

Now that I'm home from working tonight

Lord, Make me more like my dog

More loyal, more loving, more fun to be

More accepting of neighbors, whoever they be.

More willing to forgive, have faith, be free.

I think there's a reason that "Dog" is "God" spelled backwards, you see.

~The Ever Present Author Unknown