Prayer

Owen and Jim spent the day and evening playing with/babysitting Jim's grand-daughters while their parents and I work. Jim sent me this text:
"Owen prayed 'Let people know about Jesus. Help sick people and dogs.  Help K and J's mom and dad get toys for their dog so she won't chew up their toys. In Jesus name we pray.' " :)
Apparently there were some casualities amongst the Barbies!

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Layers of LIfe

Convergence

I posted something on Facebook the other day, that started with how unavoidable that particular topic had become in my life. It seemed like every time I opened a book, or a paper, or looked on the internet, or spoke to someone, the topic was the same, albeit from a different perspective...

I'm having another one of those convergences.  I caught the tail end of one of Kyle Idlem@n's sermons on the radio this morning, where he cited Romans 8:5-6.

Romans 8:5-6

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

The gist of the portion I heard  was that it's difficult to break the bad habits we have, because we've had them so long they seem comfortable and familiar.  A new habit, regardless of how "right" or "good" it may be, will feel strange and unfamiliar. This causes a lot of us (read ME here) to not persist, because it doesn't feel "right" or "good".

 

I've been trying to break some bad habits here: caffeine, sugar, etc etc.

 

I've been fortunate here recently in that there have been friends appear in my life recently that are helping me with these points.  Some have remarkably good habits, that encourage me to adopt them, and some have some of the same struggles I currently have, or are dealing with some of the habits I've been able to subdue.

 

I read this quote not long ago, in a book.

Erasmus
"A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit." 

Powerful stuff, comparing a habit with a nail....

It brought to mind a saying I was exposed to many years ago, while attending an AA meeting with someone as a show of support. There was a LOT of wisdom around that table, but this story stuck with me...

AA saying
"Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time." When asked which dog wins he reflected for a moment and replied, "The one I feed the most."

I believe this saying is applicable to all people, because all of us have "two dogs inside of us".  I don't know about you, but I find myself feeding the wrong dog, a lot.  But luckily, it seems like things are lining up, God is putting people, places, books, blogs right in front of me that are helping me down this path.

Isn't that cool?

I don't think too many people know this about Jim, but he whistles or sings almost constantly.  Random stuff...songs we sang in church when we were kids, Christmas carols in July, country music, contemporary christian music, 80's hair band balads...seriously, it could be anything. Jim has a lovely singing voice, so there is nothing inherently problematic about this habit. The problem arises because I am one of those people that gets a song stuck in my head and can't get it out once it's there. And I DO NOT have a lovely singing voice. :(

So I'm walking into the house from church today with a song from the 80's playing in my head. Specifically "Roll On" by Alabama.  "Roll on, highway, roll on along...."

(Doc, the make of this truck is a nod to you! )

I stop and glare at Jim, the source of the soundtrack. He smirks.  I ask him to help me out here, please, to get that song out of my head.  He bursts into "Afternoon Delight" by The Starland Vocal Band, circa 1976.

I had to laugh. :)

Spring Break III

More pics of the zoo....

blue cotton candy....

....it was an experience all of its own

...fun to watch

Lastly, we visited a park near our house, for one last hurrah. Owen calls this Spiderman's Web.

He loves this tire swing, but it almost makes me sick watching him spin on it. Signs of age? :)

More of The Web

...and still more

And that was the end of our Spring Break adventures. Pheww!

Spring Break II

We met  friends at the zoo during Spring Break.  That is the first time we've spent HOURS at the zoo.

They have a new polar bear exibit

And a Dinosaur display

Some of the dinosaurs have articulated parts and a sound track

Our friends. Not the best picture I took, but it captures the little one's personality, I think, so I couldn't resist!

More dinosaurs

And more dinosaurs

Cool little photo-op on the side of the path

Another one...that's a gorilla, in case all the kids obscure your vision

To be continued

Spring Break I

Our spring break started off with an interesting twist...Owen decided that he didn't want regular dressing for his salad. He wanted to "make" his own, using ketchup and mustard! That is an apple that he is dipping into his "dressing". And, yes, he ate all his lunch!

...dying Easter eggs

...go-kart riding with Daddy

...happy clam

...pretending (I think) that the kart is out of control

We hit a local animal sanctuary...

My friend and I had cleaned out our fridges and pantries of vegetables, bread and crackers.  Owen decided that the animals should share the berries!

Who knew deer wouldn't eat a blueberry? There was one deer that would eat blackberries. The rest turned up their noses.

Memaw gave Owen a "garden" for Easter.

We planted the seeds, and have watched them grow.

 

To be continued...