Okay, before you animal lovers get your no-animals-were-harmed-making-them-panties in a bunch, you must know I am not talking about blood sacrifice, but chore sacrifice. Not really a sacrifice at all, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
LENT
So Lent began on Ash Wednesday, February 18th this year. Since we are not able to go to our Oregon church Ash Wednesday service -- one of my favorite services of the year -- I searched out and found a local one in Fullerton. However, by the time Bill got home, I was so hungry I forgot all about it and we went out for a decadent dinner. That's kinda like Moses chomping on a Philly Cheesesteak with carmelized onions while all the Israelites stagger through the desert on their manna diet. An inauspicious beginning, wouldn't you say?
In previous years I have bravely chosen something to give up, such as sugar, tea, or spandex (not really). If you read earlier blogs, you would even see that one year I gave up all foods except seven.
But this year, being out of my element in our little one-bedroom apartment in the concrete jungle, I just don't have the stamina to give up something I daily indulge in. So in an effort to still sound spiritual, I am proclaiming a sacrifice that I already made by moving here: No contact with my animals, including feeding, watering, brushing, egg gathering, petting, and cuddling my goats, chickens and cat. Oh hey, I can list other things I've given up too.
* Clean, smoke-free air.
* Really green things
* Church where everyone knows my name (I don't have a favorite bar stool, but a favorite pew)
I suppose I could list more things, but then this would turn into a complaint-fest and I don't mean it to be. Let's just say that Lent looks a little different this year. In order to keep turning my face toward God, I will need to remind myself how blessed I am that someone else is doing all my chores. And I will also need to work on my reaction to the smokers downstairs, as I think slamming the windows every time I smell it is not "What Would Jesus Do."
Friday, February 20, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Webfoot farmer turned barefoot beach bum
Yes, I'm a terrible blogger. But who wants that on their tombstone? "She was a blogger extraordinaire." Let's face it, blog is not a poetic word.
Okay, so we jumped to February 2015. Although I'm still a "Fake Farmer," the farm is in the capable hands of a house sitter while I am now a temporary apartment dweller in the City of the Angels, or as I call it, "Halos of Smoke Rings." Not because of the smog, but because apparently 75% of apartment dwellers are required to smoke, or so it seems. These are the steps that led to this adventure:
1. Husband retired after 34 years of teaching.
2. I gained more online transcription work, making it very portable.
3. We (foolishly) told God we would go wherever God wanted us to go.
4. Megan's track coach at Biola suddenly retired 2 days before Christmas.
5. Bill fit the, uh, bill for an interim track coach.
6. So we packed up the truck and we moved to Beverly...or Fullerton, that is. No movie stars, but there is a swimming pool and bonus! A hot tub!
Really, it was quite amazing how God lined up all the details that had to fall into place for this to work. (Can you tell I'm the daughter of an engineer the way I number everything?)
Okay, so we jumped to February 2015. Although I'm still a "Fake Farmer," the farm is in the capable hands of a house sitter while I am now a temporary apartment dweller in the City of the Angels, or as I call it, "Halos of Smoke Rings." Not because of the smog, but because apparently 75% of apartment dwellers are required to smoke, or so it seems. These are the steps that led to this adventure:
1. Husband retired after 34 years of teaching.
2. I gained more online transcription work, making it very portable.
3. We (foolishly) told God we would go wherever God wanted us to go.
4. Megan's track coach at Biola suddenly retired 2 days before Christmas.
5. Bill fit the, uh, bill for an interim track coach.
6. So we packed up the truck and we moved to Beverly...or Fullerton, that is. No movie stars, but there is a swimming pool and bonus! A hot tub!
Really, it was quite amazing how God lined up all the details that had to fall into place for this to work. (Can you tell I'm the daughter of an engineer the way I number everything?)
1. I felt God telling me to back off of most of my commitments, including Bible study, which really broke my heart, but it's obvious now why he wanted me to.
2. We had to make a quick decision about the job and step out in faith, not get "all our ducks in a row first." My ducks may never have lined up otherwise.
3. We found a capable woman who was looking for a house sitting situation and likes to clean (Praise you Jesus!).
4. We have been lent a nice table that we needed and given a toaster oven, as well.
5. God has been speaking to me just about every day about "trusting him without borders," and "walk upon the waters wherever he may lead me." Yes, I suddenly hear that Oceans song at least twice every day. Really.
6. As I began to pack in earnest, my Daily Bread story was called "Leaving it Behind." For those who know me, I'm a pack rat and I like to have all my things around me "just in case." It says, "Our new life of following Jesus Christ may mean that we have to leave things behind, including those that don't bring lasting satisfaction." Ha!
So that's a lot for one day. Maybe I will get back to this again this week, or maybe another year or two. Who knows?
So that's a lot for one day. Maybe I will get back to this again this week, or maybe another year or two. Who knows?
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