Bible Reading

I ordered a book last week Called, From Daniel to Doomsday/The Countdown Has Begun.

It is written by John Hagee. I have heard of him before by my late grandma.

I have been in the word more then usual. I think most of us have. I started re-reading the book of Daniel, as well as the book of Revelation. Together. I think Revelation is twice as long, if I’m recalling right so I’ll probably finish Daniel first.

I’ve been choosing two books of the Bible to ponder and read through each month.

I’m finding as I’m getting older, I simply can not quote scripture like I once could. Next August, I will have lived half of my life as a Christian. It really does seem like just yesterday I asked Christ into my life.

I remember where I was, and all my surroundings of that glorious evening.

It brings me great joy remembering , and I do hope I never forget.

I hope everyone else remembers their life changing day too.

Marriage

When we hear the word, what is the first thing that comes to our minds?

When I was a little girl, it was the dancing scene in the original Cinderella Disney movie. Unfortunately, that changed when I was in a School spelling Bee and had the word and forgot the i. Ever since then, that is what I think of when I hear the word marriage. *sigh*

Moving right along…

What makes a Happy, Life Long marriage?

I think you may get a hundred different answers if you asked a hundred different people.

I asked several of my friends and received many typical, goes without saying answers. Along with some other more interesting ones.

Your basic answers were,

Having a spouse who make you laugh

Having things in common

Not sharing the same bathroom

Not sharing the same bed

Not passing gas in front of each other

Sex every other day

Never going to sleep angry

Having the same hobbies

Having the same friends

Never having friends of the opposite sex

Traveling together

Forgiveness

Praying together

Some of the more interesting ones were,

Having coffee in the morning and sharing a couple blessings with one another.

Reading a chapter of scripture together and then discussing it.

Reading the same book and then discussing it.

Writing each other notes of appreciation.

People watching and making up stories about the people you are watching.

Having your own friendships.

Having the same diet.

Taking turns with the daily chores.

Hiring a housekeeper.

Taking turns with the cooking.

Surprising each other with gifts.

Learning each other’s Love language.

Kissing each other every single day.

Taking a class together.

Going for monthly massages and pedicures together.

Keeping no records of wrongs.

Being able to talk to each other for hours on end.

Going to bed with one another every night and waking up with each other every morning.(At the same time)

Cutting each other’s finger nails

Taking a yearly cruise.

Having a large enough house so each can have their own space.

Having separate bank accounts.

Having an open marriage.

Having the same parenting style, proving you have kids to raise.

My my! So extensive, right?

I do agree with many, but was actually scratching my head at a few.

I think the dynamics of marriage is definitely changing with this generation. I have been married for twenty-five years and things are very much different then they were twenty five years ago. The world is very different, too.

Many people are choosing to not get married at all. It’s more acceptable then ever. Even to raise a family together and not be married is on the rise. I remember hearing about Goldie Hawn and her long time partner as a child, and thinking how crazy it was that they were not married, nor had any plans to marry.

Some people nowadays are even getting married but keeping their own houses and apartments to supposedly, keep it fresh! And never get on each other’s nerves. They simply have date nights, and then go home to their own spaces.

Some people have chosen to remain single and just go out and take care of their needs. They want to be seen as strong and not needing anyone.

Others are marrying their career and pets.

Oh! And in NYC, you can marry yourself!

I won’t get into the utter selfishness this all seems to me, but in all honesty, it does narrow down to that.

Marriage teaches you something new every single day. It’s a selfless act and non stop work that can, and does, have lifelong benefits. You really learn the concept of love.

I got married on a whim. It was not planned at all.

Pretty much a drop of the hat, twenty five years ago. God had a plan that I was not going to get in the way with. Has it been super easy? Absolutely not! But alas’

No regrets.

My husband saved me from myself. And a year later, Christ revealed himself to me and my whole life changed forever.

No regrets.

It’s never bothered me

When I was a teen I use to have kids talk about certain brand names that I’d never heard of. We shopped at K-Mart for nearly everything. That is all I knew. They also talked about places I never heard of. I remember being in the 6th grade when a friend told me she was going to Ontario, and I asked where that was. I can still see her shocked expression and remember her calling other girls over to tell them all that I didn’t know where Ontario was.

In later teen and young adult years I started shopping at the mall, so become familiar with Mall brands. Places, not so much. Although it’s been a while since someone mention a place to me. So who knows. We all have Google now, so really, who cares?! Lol

In latter life, I still had/have people talking about brands and sometimes cars, and electronics. Throughout my life I have had people talk about things that I did not know about. Or perhaps I knew and forgot. And you know what? It never bothered me then and still doesn’t bother me now. That said, pushing fifty, I do know that I’m bothered less and less with each passing year. I was told years and years ago that this happens to almost everyone. (Hasn’t happened to my mother yet, and she’s seventy!) I have come to the conclusion that the more you are upright and bothered, the quality of life seems to fit your feelings.

I remember talking to a lady back in 2001, who later became my very best friend. In fact, this topic is fresh on my mind because I talked to her today and she mentioned The Office, a series that everyone on the planet has seen apparently, except me. And again, doesn’t bother me. I just listened to her. Then she explained how something I said reminded her of a particular character of the Office, and we both had a laugh, and that was that.

I have been told in the past that it should bother me. That being in the loop of pop culture and all that, is a good thing.

And it’s not to say that I know nothing about things that are popular, because I do. But it does not bother me when my peers (as a kid) and now as an adult, are talking about something that I don’t know anything about. I don’t feel left out or anything.

Now to discuss a few things, mostly movies and TV shows that my friends mention all the time, that I just have not seen. Some, I’ve tried to get into, such as The Office, Schitts Creek, Modern Family, New Girl, Greys Anatomy, Orange is the New Black, Ozark, The Big Band Theory, Parks & Recreation, CSI, and Family Matters, just to name some off the top of my head. Which took a moment. There really is so many shows I have never seen. And it’s not like I don’t have access to them. I do!

I would say that most of my friends have seen, and are able to quote things from the above.

I was told once that I’m not much fun if I don’t understand a quote from a show. Needless to say, that friendship did not last. Lol

I have learned in life that it’s not what you have in common that bonds ties, but what you don’t.

Being able to except each other’s differences and still be fully able to share our passions and interests is what really matters. And besides, my grandma use to say that I could have a full blown conversation with my shadow if I had the chance.

I’m just not bothered by the little things. It just doesn’t matter.

Keep me in the moment lyrics

By Jeremy Camp

I feel like this song would be so helpful to pray on with everyone, but specifically young people just starting out with their walk with the Lord.

I’ve been thinking ’bout time and where does it go
How can I stop my life from passing me by, I don’t know

I’ve been thinking ’bout family and how it’s going so fast
Will I wake up one morning just wishing that I could go back? I’ve been thinking ’bout lately, maybe

I can make a change and let you change me
So, with all of my heart this is my prayer… oh Lord, keep me in the moment

Help me live with my eyes wide open
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me…oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I’m chasing after
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me (what you have for me)Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me…

Being Comforted & Family

I randomly bought a box of State Fair corn dogs at Walmart last night and my daughter just had one and said she was comforted and felt good.

It got me thinking about certain things that we are all comforted by. Even for a mere moment.

Obviously food is a main one. For me it’s a grilled cheese sandwich dipped in tomato soup or a bologna sandwich on Wonder Bread.

But there are many things besides food that may comfort us without us even putting two and two together.

Anything that makes one feel comforted for the moment can take us to a more easier time in our lives. Shopping and oddly, getting rid of clutter are also comforting to me.

Both take me back to childhood. Walking around a mall for hours on end and not buying anything instantly comforts me. This is something that I have done for the past thirty years. It started with my mom and then transcended into my teen years with my friends, to my early adult years with my hubby, and then moved on to with my teen girls. Such wonderful memories have been stored in my heart.

Playing board games and doing crafts also issue a sense of comfort to me. Then there is reading and discussing what was read. This was something I started with my two oldest and has always brought comfort to me, hearing my kids different views on materials that have been read.

Of course what was once lengthy books and news programs, have morphed into random online, trending news stories, and even memes with my younger kids. But I think many of us parents can relate to that one. I don’t think a day goes by without one of my kids sharing a meme with me and each other. To some parents, the giggles behind their phone screens bring comfort to me. I don’t see it as a time waster because we have balance. Our parents memories were much different then ours, and our memories are much different then what our kids memories will be. The important thing is, they are Valid and important. Memories and feelings are all valid and important. I have truly come to realize this in the past decade.

It’s these simple moments that really tie a family together. It’s not about thinking the same about everything that make up a loving family. It is about excepting each other’s differences and loving each other regardless of those differences that tie us as one. I feel like having debates with one another and trying to push them, are what divide families. Just look at most of the families that try to have Holiday get togethers and end up

Fighting and at odds with one another.

The movies always focus around this and in most times have that take center stage. Families are like a marriage. It takes work and choices. Choices of accepting one another, forgiving one another and having enough respect for one another to let us each be who God has allowed us to be in order to grow into his will for us as individuals.

That is a chose families make. The only thing traditional about how I raised my kids was that they all have a mother and a father. Everything else has never been seen as traditional, but I’m okay with that. No regrets. Only Love.