Regret...

   Regret.  Ugh.
   Personally, I hate regret.  That dude who likes to pop around every corner, just when you think you've "gotten over it".  Throws in your face every mistake you've made.  Tries to drag you down every time you start to climb.
   But regret is something I've been thinking about lately.  Something I've been trying to "figure out", maybe.  What, really, is regret?  How are you supposed to get rid of him when he shows up to try and ruin your life a little more?  

What do you think?  [I'll post what I think later, after I've heard some other opinions:)]

A Giveaway To Check Out!

So... I have this friend.... and her name is Andrea.
Well, Andrea happens to be a really great photographer!
AAANNNDDD she's having a giveaway for the next couple of weeks!!
  Be sure to hop over to her blog and check it out! 
 (Pssst. you don't wanna miss it!)

Of Vacation and Valentine's

Of Vacation...  I was in California for three weeks, visiting my adorable nephew and niece (and my brother and sister-in-law).  Three weeks of nice warm (to me) weather, adorable kiddos, and catching up with old friends...it was great!  Coming back home and getting met with a foot or so of snow wasn't quite as fun, though it was/is good to be home.

Of Valentine's...  No, not that I had any valentines...just talking about Valentine's Day here, folks;).  My parents were in charge of a Sweetheart Banquet on the day, so I got to stay home (part of the day) and take care of these kids [I guess you could call them my valentines:)] 

Two lil' girlies

'Tis the Night Before Christmas

'Tis the night before Christmas, and now in the house

There's a creature stirring, though not a mouse.

Santa's coal came already, we're burning it now

(Oh please don't tell me we've all been that bad!)

The parents are all snug in their bed, 

As visions of grandchildren dance through their heads.

And Jered, after bookwork, has settled his brain for the night,

While I at the computer am writing this post.

All day there has been much snow a-fallin',

So dreams of white Christmas are soon to come true.

It covers the lawn, sparkling like diamonds,

Reflecting the gentle glow of the moon.

I'm now getting tired, so I shall bid you good-night,

May your Christmas be happy and light,

Your New Year joyful and bright,

Always following the great Prince of Peace.

This finishes my thoughts

But how shall I stop?

For what you begin, it's not always easy to end.

Good-night one, Good-night all, 

And Merry Christmas, y'all!

November...

I know, I know.  It's been forever since I posted...well, I have a good reason--life was busy!

November was good, busy (like I already said), fun, and...pretty normal!  My favorite parts were definitely cuddling my sweet little nephew...going to Virginia in the first part of the month...company for Thanksgiving...and to top it all off, a donut party [with super fun people and lively games of scum:)] on the last night of the month!  

However...as the winter disliker (I won't quite say hater) that I am...I can't say I'm so thrilled about the cold and snow and ice and...slippery roads.  

By the way, do any of you know the song "Written In Red?"  It's one of my favorites right now...especially the chorus.  So beautiful!  Here's the lyrics, in case you don't know it [or do know it but just wanna read them again:)]

Verse 1
In letters of crimson, God wrote His love
On the hillside so long, long ago;
For you and for me Jesus died, 
And love's greatest story was told.

[Chorus 1]
I love you, I love you
That's what Calvary said;
I love you, I love you, 
I love you, Written in Red

Verse 2
Down through the ages, God wrote His love
With the same hands that suffered and bled;
Giving all that He had to give, 
A message so easily read.

[Chorus 2]
I love you, I love you,
That's what Calvary said; 
I love you, I love you,
I love you.....

Bridge
Oh, precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood, 
The blood of Jesus.

[Chorus 1]

-Gordon Jensen

Life's Rests

Awhile ago, a friend had sent me a paper with a quote from John Ruskin on it.  I had stuck it away and kind of forgotten about it, but then recently in some of the thing's I've been working through, I remembered it and pulled it back out.  Then tonight, I googled it, when lo and behold, I discover that there was more to the reading than what I'd had.  The title of the reading is "Life's Rests" and I'll post it here for you:

LIFE'S RESTS 

BY: JOHN RUSKIN 1819-1900 

   There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it. In our whole life melody the music is broken off here and there by ''rests,'' and we foolishly think we have come to the end of the tune. God sends a time of forced leisure, sickness, disappointed plans, frustrated efforts, and makes a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, and we lament that our voices must be silent, and our part missing in the music which ever goes up to the ear of the Creator. 
   How does the musician read the rest? See him beat the time with unvarying count, and catch up the next note true and steady, as if no breaking place had come between. 
   Not without design does God write the music of our lives. But be it ours to learn the tune, and not be dismayed at the ''rests.'' 
   They are not to be slurred over nor to be omitted, nor to destroy the melody, nor to change the keynote. If we look up, God Himself will beat the time for us. With the eye on Him, we shall strike the next note full and clear. 
--John Ruskin, the greatest Victorian, bar Victoria, was an artist, scientist, poet, environmentalist, philosopher, and the pre-eminent art critic of his time

And, the copy that I have adds the phrase on the very end, "Because we rested."  
To me, this is powerful.  I don't like to "rest".  Sometimes, I think the rest would be a lot easier if I only knew how long it would be.  I don't like the uncertainty of not knowing when the rest will end and the next note come.  

But the most comforting part about the rest?  Knowing that it IS God Himself beating the timing of my life.  Knowing that He knows the music already, and is preparing me to "strike the next note full and clear."

A Prayer

Tonight I happened to be going through some random documents on the computer, and I found this free verse poem I wrote awhile ago, or I guess it's a prayer in poem form.  This still is my prayer, that I would be open to God's searching my heart and that He would purify my heart.  I hope you can identify!

Your thoughts are not my thoughts,

Neither are Your ways my ways.

You are so much higher

As high as heaven is above the earth-

So are Your thoughts and ways above mine.

Father I pray that You

Would search out and know my heart

Try me, Lord, know my soul!

Sound out its depths – leave nothing hidden.

Leave nothing covered that should be known.

Make in me a clean heart;

Make me hear joy and gladness.

That my soul may rejoice

You desire truth in my inmost heart

So please purify me in Your truth.