retiring this blog

After no updates for four months I'm sure no one is surprised that I'm closing down shop here. However I do plan to start blogging again over at http://natalielorinblogs.blogspot.com. I'm hoping to keep things a little more purposeful over there, so come check it out.

Danny MacAskill - "Way Back Home"

Epic bike riding - reminded me of figure skating in a way.

America Beware!

I highly suggest folks add Peter Hitchen's blog at the Daily Mail to their google readers. For those who haven't heard of him, Mr. Hitchens is brother to the somewhat famous atheist, Christopher Hitchens, and an all-around straight up fellow. Those looking for an introduction to Peter Hitchens should check out his book Rage Against God which chronicles his decent into communist atheism during his schoolboy years and his subsequent return to the Christian faith and all of it's social and political implications. He's interesting, and an excellent writer, and there should be many more of him speaking out in this demented age. If you wonder why it's important to read a political/social commentary on Great Britain I answer simply that as England was we were and as England has fallen so are we. In Rage Against God Mr. Hitchens sketches a poignant picture of a old and honorable culture dying. Portions of the book made me want to weep for the Grand Dame Britannia who is caught up in the fetters of a post-Christian, post-rational society. Which is not to say that his writings are a pangyric on Western Civilization - there have been far too many ills laid at our door. However, it he does provide a thoughtful, incisive look at what happens when a nation abandons God.

high hopes laid low

Well, all my high hopes for Advent have been postponed for the moment while I try to shake a round of GI mess that hit me yesterday. I'll spare everyone the gory details, but sufficing to say that my Christmas tree is still sitting on the porch, the closest containing my ornaments hasn't been touched, and I spent most of yesterday asleep on the couch. I've already had to cancel one shindig due to this which I hate because I long for meaningful Advent celebrations and with me sick on the couch and not a single bit of my Christmas things out it doesn't feel festive around here one bit. I'm hoping that tomorrow/Saturday I can finally get around to these things, but for now I'm just figuring that God wants to teach me a bit about relying on Him for my strength and not myself. It's a thing I ignore all too often and getting smacked flat on my rumpus the day after telling a kindly concerned husband that I would just push through and get it all done (who knows how) makes me think that God had a few lessons for me to learn. Not that I think God just goes around smacking people, but I can be pretty stubborn sometimes. At any rate I've had amply time to reflect on the proverb that a man might set out on a walk one day, but it's the Lord who chooses his steps. I'm just hoping I can feel better and get some work done tomorrow. Thanksgiving + sickness + mad present shopping have made a hash of my plans for the week - and possibly of my immune system.

storm before the calm

I find myself greatly in need of a little peace and calm. Hopefully I'll find it when we see the mountains and trees and waves and get away from the craziness that has been "one of those weeks" one right after the other. Somewhere in this I'm learning and growing and becoming better prepared for next year. Sometimes I just wish the learning and the application weren't the same thing.

I hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends and wonderful food and hearts full of love.

too mad to say

Just image a stream of vitriol strong enough to melt brick at 50 yards. That's what I wish I was doing to a certain someone who abandoned all his vows to leave his church and his wife. Then he got re-married to a woman his wife knew while they were married.



There are not enough words for men like him.

pincushion in underpants

I remember Calvin (of Calvin and Hobbes fame) saying something to the affect that the doctor saw him as a pink pincushion in underpants. Well, I can relate. There's something about needles that gives me the heebie jeebies. Can't stand the things. Just thinking about them can make my stomach turn. Yeah, lovely confession for a self-proclaimed grown-up. It's not the pain (which is minimal). There's just some sort of icky gross-out factor that churns my stomach. But, I made an appointment. Tuesday. Nine vials. Fasting. It's bad enough of a full stomach, but you're going to stress me while I have low blood sugar? Jeesh. The doctor he lied to me. He said we probably wouldn't have to do the whole thing again. We'd just do a touch-up. Uh-huh.

Oh well, at least I'm not one of those people forced into getting used to needles. My head is pretty rational about the whole thing. I just wish it could convince my stomach.

Gut reactions? Not always helpful.