Call to Prayer

I really fell led to be in prayer over the upcoming election. I can't tell anyone how to vote, nor would I do that. What I can say is that we should all be praying about it.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Our land needs healing, but there is a whole lot that goes before that.

We need to earnestly be seeking God's direction on how we vote.

Just as we measure ourselves by His Word, we need to measure those we vote for the same way.

Instead of being caught up in the excitement of either camp, let's be caught up in the excitement of seeking the Lord Jesus Christ and the direction he has for us. Humble ourselves before Him and seek His face. Trust Him to handle healing our land.

Lazy Sunday

Today was just that. We just sort of hung out and did a whole lot of nothing. We went to the pet store for puppy food and then stopped off at Target. Dean and I like to check the clearance. We picked up some folding lawn chairs for the back porch for those cooler evenings we are hoping to experience.

We also bought Ake a football. He had never played with one at all. He loves football. We came home and he asked Dean all kids of questions about how to throw and how to catch. While I made dinner, they went to the front yard and tossed it around. Ake was so excited. He really had so much fun. I took photos. I will pos them on my 365 photo blog.

Happy Birthday Nanny

Today is Nanny's birthday. She was awake when I called today, and I got to wish her happy birthday. She said she felt bad. I told her I had been praying for her to feel better. She said to keep praying because she sure felt bad today. She really sounded like Nanny today. She didn't fuss at me about moving to El Paso today. That was nice. I hate it when she fusses. It wasn't like I had much of a choice about moving.

This really could be her last birthday. It makes me sad, but I know she is tired and ready to go home.

Hurricane Gustav

This looks like it is going to be a huge storm. The whole gulf coast could be impacted. I am viewing this from a totally different perspective this time. Well, I guess not totally different. My family is still in the path of bad weather. When you look at the projected path, almost everyone I love is in the path. Even my kids. Since JoyAnna is with mom, she is even closer to the coast than Eric. She is supposed to fly home next Saturday. Depending on weather and flooding, that could be a problem.

I was so glad to the see Mayor of NO issue mandatory evacuations. It should have happened last time. I won't get on my soap box about that one.

For now, all we can do is pray. I am a little far for people to come to as they evacuate.

New Shoes

My feet have been really hurting since we moved to El Paso. I suppose it is the concrete and tile instead of hardwood floors. I need to exercise. I really, really need to exercise. It is very hard to exercise when your feet hurt so bad. I was loving water aerobics - until the incident with Abe Lincoln. Now, I can't go because that is when I have to take Ake to school. I have decided that I will drop him at school then head to the Y for some workout on my own. I can use the machines and get a good workout. It is not like I don't know what to do. There is, of course, the matter of the feet.

Today Dean and I went to Academy to look at some long sleeved shirts. Fall is on the way and he needs to send some to Alisia to have his logo stiched onto. They were having one of thos half off the clearance sales. You know I love a bargain. I had looked at the shoes one other time, but not found any I just loved. Today they had added some awesome looking aisics - my favorites- on the shelf. I was so excited. They were the really nice ones. At half price they were what I usually pay for shoes, so I felt like I got a good deal.

Now, to get motivated and move.

Friday was a long day

It was also a hard day emotionally for me. I was on the phone a lot of the day talking to mom about Nanny. It is so emotional when you think of someone you love dying. Throw into the mix a variety of different personalities and you get way too much friction. Mom babysits kids all day, so she can't be at the hospital and has to get so much of her information 2nd or 3rd hand. She then passes it on to me.

I suggested that Mom call in hospice. I mean seriously, if she is as close to dying as they seem to think, then Hospice is the perfect solution and needs to be called. I am hoping that having Hospice as a part of the situation will help them make decisions based on information and not emotion. I hope it helps ease the tension.

I drove a car full of exchange students to New Mexico for a day of shopping and Mexican food. Neither was a big hit with them. We then decided to try the outlet mall. That was more along the lines of thier kind of afternoon.

JoyAnna was in Longview and got to see all my kids. I got to talk to them on the phone. There I sat in the plaza of Old Mesilla crying because I miss them so badly. Oh well.

Dean came to the mall and we enjoyed just walking and sitting in the food court and talking. We have had no time by ourselves in so long. It was nice. There was a windstorm last night, too. I loved listening to the wind in the trees. Those were the highlights of my day.

Mom picked JoyAnna up and drove back to Lufkin. JoyAnna started having those bad pains again. Here I am 800 miles away and she feels awful. Very hard on a mom. I think it was probably because of having to say goodbye to Steven again.`

I was pretty much emotionally drained when I fell into bed. I had managed to go to sleep when JoyAnna called to tell me they had made it. Then I was wide awake, so I spent some time praying before I fell back to sleep.

The Ever Changing Never Changing

On Thursday afternoon I had to make a run to the store. I decided to go to one a tad further from home since I like their veggies. I also like the view when you walk out the door. It really has that wow factor.

I was not having the best day. Mom had called and told me Nanny was in the hospital again. She said she was not doing well at all. Her blood pressure had really dropped and they were concerned that this time, it would be the end. By the time I went to the store, she was better.

I have mentioned before how much I really like looking at the mountains here. I hope it is something I never get tired of. They are a constant reminder of Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the mountain;
From whence shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

When I walked out of the store and looked up, I saw the mountain. Once again it was a magnificant sight. The colors, and light, and shadow were awe inspiring.

And then it hit me.

Everytime I look at the mountain I see something different. It is ever changing in how I see it.

but

It is always the same mountain.

Then I thought about how God is a like that. He is always God. He never changes. How I see him, changes. Sometimes, I see Him as Father, Comforter, Providor, Creator, and it goes on and on. I am so thankful we serve a God who reveals himself to us in so many ways, yet is never changing- always our rock- our mountain.

blessings!