It's A One-Liner!

Husband- I love you, I miss you, I hope you can come home sooner then later, I told you so,Ha!

I'm sorry, did I really just hear you say that!?

Photo Credit: Krapp

Have you ever heard something and you thought , did someone really just say that? Rarely do I get offended by what is shared on the radio. However on my way to work this morning I heard something I just couldn't believe, and was highly taken back. On talk radio this morning they were discussing how in Iowa or Idaho, or somewhere, they are trying to change the name of Good Friday to Spring Holiday. This wasn't what bothered me all that much. I mean, yes I do feel that we are "supposed" to be a christian nation founded on Christian beliefs and at every moment we are robbed of that so that we don't offend anyone or step on any toes... which is just ridiculous! On certain Sundays in church we learn about persecuted Christians, believers who are punished/killed sometimes for living out the Christian faith in strict non-Christian countries. Amazing that here in our Free country we want to cater to every religion as to not make anyone mad or feel uncomfortable, where are our standards? What happened? Is there any freedom in hiding the truth?

So back to this morning, the topic explained above, was then requested to have callers respond with their feelings to this change. I could not believe what the first called said, and I quote " Well I think it is silly to change the name, I mean to me Good Friday is a hogwash holiday anyway" yeah and then I was done. I turned off the radio and was so disturbed by this statement that tears filled my eyes. I just was in shock by this!

I guess maybe I am sheltered but I have never heard anyone say something that I thought was so deplorable. As I write this I can feel the tears. And you know, I am not some super christian here trying to say I am better then anyone, because I am far from perfection.... very very far. I live for the world far more then I would like to admit and many times place God at the bottom of my list. This is as honest as it gets, and it is hard to admit not only to you but to myself. I need to take a long look at myself and not just once but constantly- over and over again. But this isn't about me, despite my imperfections, I am a friend to a holy, forgiving God. But, wow, hogwash... the day that commemorates Jesus' Crucifixion, hogwash, hearing this was like a personal insult someone had just laid onto me. Do you know that hogwash means nonsense, the death of Jesus, nonsense? WOW, Really, calling it nonsense is nonsense!

How vivid the reflections of the Easter Story, of Jesus being tortured, for me, became after I heard this comment. And all I can think of is " Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34) Please say a special prayer for this person unknown, tonight, I still just cannot get past hogwash... something so vastly important, hogwash... The greatest love story ever told... hogwash.... and now I am just speechless.....

From the Mundane to the Momentous....

So today was a good day! I found out Good Friday is a holiday and I have off and the weather is supposed to be fabulous this weekend. Yay! When I got home from work today I began to just think about how quiet the house was, and when it's quiet I think and think and think. So this post is what I am feeling... This picture is how I want to feel. Giddy, thats what I call it, crazy thats what it is, Crazy in Love! And I wish Danny was here to make me smile and laugh and just look at me silly. But no, it's just quiet instead. He's of shore, I'm off in la la land today! So I did my routine... dinner, dogs, elliptical, and now blog! Oh, and a small bit of work during dinner!

Speaking of dinner, it is so rough to cook for one person! First of all I am a poor cook, baking I can do and do well, cooking, egh not so much. Ha! But anyway I only had cereal. Last week I made a chicken casserole and 3/4 of it sits in my fridge and will be soon discarded. It makes me sick to be so wasteful but I cannot stomach the same thing over and over again. And there is just no room in my freezer with all the micro quick meals! I guess this sounds pretty pathetic! Ha!

Hmmm what other thoughts of the day, Oh thats right... I got the palm pre plus- love it love it love it! The I-phone has nothing on it! Ha JK to my Iphone friends. Although they are quite cool, I haven't been hit with the desire to have an Iphone. And they are quite expensive and I go through phones like anything, not even 2 years and I am ready for a change! Do you think I have a problem? Ha! Don't worry new phones are nothing compared to my clothes shopping habits!

Ha!

I guess the most Important thing that I have to say is that yesterday, Palm Sunday, and no I am not talking about the phone, I was reading about "The Triumphal Entry" of Christ into Jerusalem from my weekly study online through church. The prediction of this day can be traced back to the old testament. What is further amazing is that in all 4 gospels the the same story is told. 4 accounts of a story told by 4 different authors, and 4 of the same descriptions. This really hit me as we are in the Easter Season. If something is so important to be told over and over by different people who have the same recollection of it, then doesn't that spark something in you to feel the truth in it. This really helped me to focus my attention and reflect on the true meaning of Easter, of Life....

Soon it'll be the Palm Pre~ X your fingers!

This is my new fascination! So tomorrow I think I will go buy this hot little thing! Currently I have a Blackberry Storm, which I like, but I am just tired of it, so tomorrow I'll ring in a new phone! Ha, get it, ring! ha! I never make it to the 2 year mark for phones, always just a few months shy. Oh well, I can just feel the newness of the Palm Pre on my fingertips! I hope this all works out for me! Sometimes a new commodity is few and far between! Wish me well!

Paper? What like a photo?

Traditional first anniversary Gifts: First Year- Paper... hmm so many options....photo, card, tickets?... but what to give the diver who won't be here on your first wedding anniversary. And me, what to give the gal that will be in Florida for your first wedding anniversary. Across the miles Danny, April 25, right around the corner....Well, I guess it's true what they say... "All You Need is Love" Makes it easy for planning. Ha!

A View From the Top

How do you view yourself? Are your genuinely happy, sad, angry, grumpy? Do others see you as the same? Are you self centered, rude, obnoxious, shy or quiet? Do you have self worth? Are you a perfectionist? Are you messy, clean, organized, or sloppy? Are you social, or do you prefer to do things by yourself? Sorta sounds like a self-help infomercial! So I'll stop there. Ha!

But seriously how do you view yourself?

I was out the other night with my Amma, to dinner, at Cracker Barrel, her favorite and we were in the rockers waiting to be seated. She said to me "Isn't it wild how everyone is looks different?" I responded," yes it is isn't it" See her question didn't floor me or take me by surprise, first of all it's Amma, nothing she says can take you off guard, but I have though about this so many times. Yes yes, I am an avid people watcher, my true profession. Ha! Don't worry I don't watch to judge or make fun, I watch to learn and respect each person as their own individual. Yes, I will admit, I have been that person to judge and will I do it again, probably so, I am human, a sinner, I am nowhere near perfect or will be in this lifetime. Praise God! But I truly feel that everyone has a specialness to them. A distinctiveness about them. And it is true, even if you are a twin, your other is not an exact replica of you. There is no one person like you. Take a minute to process this, isn't it amazing!

Sometimes I will look in the mirror, and whether I feel good or not so good about what is looking back at me, I will say "I am Julie, this is what I have to offer, this is who I am, I cannot be anyone else, nor can anyone else be me. I am perfect in God's eyes" While you may think this is corny sometimes it is just what I need to get through the day. Like the song by Kellie Pickler, Don't You Know You're Beautiful, don't you know your beautiful? Well you are! So be you, be different, be extraordinary, like you were made!

You Make Me Wanna Be Brave

This morning I felt so sick when I got up. I was just miserable, and on such a beautiful day. I let the dogs out and fed them, and went right back to bed. Around 11 I finally work up and felt much better. Don't you hate when you just don't feel yourself and your not sure if it's more then what it is or nothing at all. Being a nurse I always take into consideration both sides. I say "it may be nothing, don't dwell on it" and then I tell myself "oh it may be this, that leads to this, that could eventually lead to this, and you better see a specialist to be sure."

Isn't it amazing how a lot of us have this inner hypochondriac that just makes us crazy when we have a minor "ache". You figure it all out then go and present your case to the doctor, as if you are the one with the medical degree! Ha! The you disagree with what the doctor has told you and tell them I'm right your wrong. If you know it all why even go to the doctor?

I wonder why that is? Why I try to depict everything myself, medical or not, worry about it, lose sleep over it, and just plain let it get the best of me. One of my favorite scriptures is "Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you" ( 1Peter 5:7 ) How comforting is that, and with that being said why don't I do it more often? This week it is my prayer that I let go of my doubts and fears and just give them all to God. Worry will get me nowhere, and I need to give it to God because I don't want to look 70 when I am 50! Egh, not a pretty picture! Maybe this is where I should start so I don't lose any sleep tonight! Ha.

In all seriousness with Easter, around the corner I really want to reflect and just meditate on what "cares" of mine have been answered over the past years of my life. God has surely been faithful and I want to offer my thanks to Him~ It's the least I can do for all He has done for me... I just need to be Brave and let go of control...