Randomness

1. I've cleaned up my blog list over there on the right side. Yes, I totally just wriggled my right hand to make sure it actually is my right side. I'm 50. When will I instinctively know my left and right sides without writing in the air?
Note: Vibrant Nation commented on one of my blog posts, inviting me to consider joining their community.
Note: Nicaragua 2012 is the blog of a group of Drew's friends on a humanitarian trip. He's known most all of these kids since Kindergarten.
Note: My friend, Christine Lindsay is bravely reposting her birth-mother story. She was young, single and pregnant ...

2. The other day I was mentioning to a friend that I'd like to get a plain white hoodie. Tonight? She stopped by with six white hoodies (and a blue one) for me to consider. I was to try them all on, and decide which one I like, later, after she left, because she knows I don't try on clothes in front of people. She'll return the ones I don't want next week.

I really should just get her to pick out my next house for me. She loves shopping. I love not shopping.

3. Karm phoned this evening to tell me that Mark Wahlberg was being interviewed on TV. And then she said, "I've never mentioned this to you before, but, and you'll probably think I'm weird, but I see a likeness in appearance between Mark W and Drew."

Hahahahahahaha.
Oh my goodness.
She doesn't know the half of it.

Like Drew, Drew's dad is one of four brothers. Karm doesn't know that generation of O bros, but those that do? Totally see the resemble of Oboy #3 and Markie Mark.
Can you see it?

I don't have a whole lot of pics of my (ex) bro-in-law in laid back sexy poses, so it's hard to do an exact comparison. But even his daughter (and her friends) see it.

Anyway, when Drew came home I told him that Karm thought he looked like Mark Wahlberg.
(Which makes sense seeing my boys look so O-like it's as if I had no part in the recipe that made them.)
"YES!" he exclaimed, proudly, as if he'd done something special to win this look-alike lottery besides simply be the recipient of some very strong genes.


4. Seeing I was scanning a few photos for the look-alike post above, I thought I'd post this cute one of little Clint:

Awwwwwh.
So cute in his tiny tux. He was 3.

5. Two friends became grandmas for the second time this week - with both of them getting granddaughters.
Congrats Val (baby Grace) and Marg (baby Kayia).

Both Val and Marg are younger than me. And they each have 2 grandkids.
I can't imagine.
No really, I can't.
First of all - what will it be like to have daughters-in-law?
And secondly, will they want to 'share' their lives/babies/ with me?

If your son dates during high school, while he's living at home, you have a fighting chance of getting to know that girl informally. And her being comfortable in your home, just hanging out.

But after your son moves out? You're not part of that early dating process. I'm guessing he'll only bring her home once it's a done deal. And it's not like they'll hang out in your family room most evenings just watching TV. They'll only come by for a purposeful visit. I imagine it'll be a little awkward.

But maybe not. Maybe it'll all be good.
Please God, let it be good.

6. Saw Iron Lady this weekend.

What wouild it be like being Meryl Streep? Seriously. THAT WOMAN CAN ACT. How awesome would it be to have a reputation for being 'the best' at what you do? A reputation for working hard, and being able to deliver. Movie execs can count on her to turn in an award winning performance every time.

She was incredible in this movie. The movie itself? Meh. I'm not a fan of the style they used to document Margaret Thatcher's life. And her story didn't have to include (overriding everything else) her later years and possible dementia. For a while there, it felt like I was watching a movie on aging and the suckiness of getting old - as opposed to a movie about the life of the first female prime minister in the western world.

That said, I'm still glad I went. It WAS interesting. And I totally googled her life when I got home, so there's that. I am a smidgen smarter as a result of Hollywood.

7.. A few hearts (melted crayon shavings) from Thursday night's creative endeavors:

I'm going to be doing these again this week - at my mom's place. Anyone else want to play?

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Friends who drop by with 6 hoodies.
2. Fresh water is only 3 steps away.
3. Church services on Saturday night. Northview is doing a spectacular series on the life of Jacob.

Tonight Jeff drew our attention to all the shortcomings of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau and Jacob and the incredible dysfunction of that family. And at the spot we were studying tonight, Isaac just gave his blessing to Jacob who, along with the help of his mom, deceived his dad, stealing it from his brother. Esau vowed to kill Jacob, so he ran away, not knowing if he'd ever see his family again. And if that were the end of the story, it would be a dismal ending. Favoritism. Intent to murder. Theft. Distrust. Abandonment. A complete breakdown of the family unit.

(Jeff suggested we remember this particular family next Thanksgiving when we have our own dysfunctional families sitting around our table. Ours don't look so bad compared with His chosen family, eh?)

But here's the thing. The story isn't over til it's over. This is only Genesis 28. There's still a whole lot of life yet to be lived.

And when God met Jacob in the desert after he'd cheated, stolen and run away, what did He say to him? I'm disappointed in you? I'm mad at you? I am going to smote you? I'm going to punish you? No. He sure didn't:

I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. ¹⁴Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.^[b] 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”



And our stories aren't over til His purposes have been accomplished. We will mess up. He loves us anyways. We will do wicked things. He will use us anyways. We will run away. He will find us.

I am going to hang on to that. With both hands.
Our stories aren't done. My story is still being written.
He still has a purpose for me.

So I'll stand. With hands and heart wide open.
Surrendering my life to Him. I'm His. He can use me for His purposes.

Shalom,