Monday, October 31, 2005

Checking Yota's Oil

Today or actually just before I got here I had to check Yota's oil. She was in desperate need of it. She is such a thirsty car! The little pig she is.

You may wonder why I named my car Yota, or even named my car at all. Well Su(with Pepe) and my mom(with Nellie) did so I figured I needed to. (I am such a crowd follower!) And at first I thought she needed a white preppie chick name because it just seemed to fit my car. But the other day I thought, "Wow! Yota! Toyota, Yota. And she's green like Yoda." So it all worked out fine. Yota, the Fawn Slayer.

But I really do get tired of putting oil in her every week. And it made mom late for something because I had to do it before she left.

To add something Godly to this conversation----

We need to be thirsty like Yota, in constant need of God's love and grace to be poured upon us or down our throats like Yota. And we need to make sure we are close to Him, as close and right with Him as we can get. We have to check our level of growth in Him to make sure we are not running out. If we don't we will blow up just like my engine will if I don't keep oil in it like I should.

So be like Yota, thirsty, and keep close to God for your health.
God does a body good.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Cady Lake, Great Food, Gay People, and Seat-belt burn

This weekend we traveled to Belfair for my great-great Aunt Nina's birthday party. She turned 90 so we had a big celebration. Auntie Barb planned this all out to be a lake resort. The lake was Cady Lake and it is very pretty up there (or down there or however you would describle it).
It is a bed and breakfast place and extremely nice. It ended up being a lot nicer than we expected which is always a plus. Dad, mom, Aunt Cynthia, Jessi and I stayed in a room together and it wasn't that cramped; it was a big room.

We got there about 2 o'clock in the afternoon and were in time to surprise Auntie Nina. What really surprised her is that Grandpa Petersen came too. And he hardly ever goes away from his cows anywhere. But he came and she was so happy to see all of us. And she is doing fairly well considering the last time we saw her she was on oxygen and in a wheelchair. But she walked around with her cane and managed to last until around 6, when they took her home.
But anyway, there was a ton of food (typical of my family, food draws us together in feasting). I ate a ton of shrimp. That made me very happy. Shrimp does that to me. That and sparkling apple cider. Of which I had both with meatballs, broccoli salad, ham, Hersey kisses, and delicious cake. *sigh, thinking of all the food*
She opened presents. The family talked about old times and told jokes of which I won't repeat because my family... well... lets just say they are not Christian and have no problem with drinking, cussing, and other things. And then they took a bigillion pictures of us in all combinations. Petersens with Auntie Nina, children with Auntie Nina, Dousts with Auntie Nina, adopted children with Auntie Nina, friends and so on.

And then came the Bell-fairies. And no we do not call them that. They call themselves that. The Bell-fairies would be the several homosexual people that attended. You see my dad's cousin and Auntie Nina's only grandchild is a lesbian. Yep. And so her partner and 2 gay couples who are friends of their family were there.
Half of my family, mainly those who live over there on the coast are accepting of it all and it doesn't seem to bother them. But the rest of us, it creeps us out. It is just odd having to hug someone you know is a lesbian. But you do because she is family and it isn't like she does anything unappropriate, but you just feel odd and a little creeped out with the fact that she likes other women. I try not to think of it and that is why we will leave it at that.

Most of the people left around 7 to their houses and motels except us that came from far away. We stayed there. The boys, Jessi, and I watched Hitch, which I had never seen before. And we played some Yahtzee. And then we all went to bed.
We woke up in the morning and talked while Larry, the owner and host, made a huge breakfast for us. A few of the people came back for breakfast. It was great. (Can you tell that I most always think of food as great? lol.)
Then we cleaned up. And a few of us went to say good-bye to Auntie Nina again. Dad got "mis-placed"--he won't let me use the word lost, because, "We aren't lost. I know where I am at. I just need to find her house."-- and we spent 30 minutes driving around while the people following us because we "knew where we were going" followed us laughing. I could see them in the mirror. But we got there as always and said goodbye and tried to hug Auntie Nina without crushing her frail body. Which is honestly something you worry about.

So we headed off. Our trip there was uneventful. But our trip back wasn't. Between Tacoma and Seattle (if you can differenitate that) we got into a small car crash. Small, but it scared us. Four cars ahead of us slowed down quickly. The 2 behind them managed not to wreck, but the car in front of us tried to break couldn't enough because the road was wet. And we bumped into them.
As always there was so much to be thankful for. It crushed the front of the van but did nothing to the car in front of us. The huge truck behind us managed to swerve into another lane with no one in it, giving Aunt Cynthia who was behind them time to break. And it didn't hurt anything important on the van and we were able to drive it home. Jessi hit her head lightly on the seat in front of her and got a headache; I got seat-belt burn on my side because I was laying down sleeping at the time. But that was all. And because it was really no one's fault neither us or the other car were given a ticket. God always seems to protect us. I am so thankful for all the wrecks that we get in that end up being really nothing. (This incident, my fawn slaughtering...)

We got home around 4 and went and got Sam. He was happy to see us. And we were happy to be home. Safe and sound, having had a great weekend with family.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Hunting

This morning I woke up at 5:30 to go hunting with my dad. Hunting is an interesting sport. I love it but it doesn't really make all that much sense to me. Especially when most of the time you are trying to outsmart all the other hunters and not necessarily out hunting the deer. It is the hunting part I like not the stragegy. So it starts to annoy me a little when dad and I sit on a hill for 30 minutes trying to decide where we should go to outsmart this other guy up on the hill. Should we go south and chase those deer even though there are a ton of other people waiting on the south end or should we go along this rockslide and try to push the deer out of their beds hoping that there is a legal buck? Hmm. This takes much pondering. We ended up doing the later, which was my favorite choice. We did push the deer out and we would have had a perfect shot except that there were no legal deer in the bunch. As dad says, "We were snookered." Don't ask me what that means, I am guessing fooled or cheated. We were in such a hurry to get up the hill and make sure no one else got the deer that we took no water. So it was tiring and I am so out of shape.
But despite my complaining I really do like to hunt. The adrenaline rush of sneaking up on one is amazing. My dad's friend and I did that last year and we got about 10 yards away when we realized it only had 2 points. But I was amazed at what a rush I got. This year I didn't actually have a license or carry a gun because I decided that I didn't really want to shoot a deer myself. I have no problem with seeing someone else kill one, but I didn't want to do it myself. But I enjoyed going along for the ride and spending time with my dad. And he teaches me so much about deer and their habits, things I am sure he learned from his dad and it becomes a generational thing to me. I am glad to spend time with him doing something he enjoys, sharing that with him.

Father-daughter bonding is the best. I suggest that you all do some of that soon with your dad. It is such a special time. It's great when your dad treats you like a princess and spoils you with ice cream and such, but it is also great to do something with him that he enjoys. Even if you don't. I am blessed to enjoy what he does, but I think the main reason I do is because he is doing it with me. I don't want to miss out on that. I don't want to regret not showing my love to him when I was young when I am older.
In a way I also see it as preparing me for being a wife. A wife needs to be supportive and join in the things her husband enjoys too. Doing that with your dad can be a "practice" run. Like playing house in a way.
But most of all I see it as a symbol of our heavenly Father. He also wants to spend time with us doing what He wants and what His heart is in. And that is loving Him just like it is loving our dad here on earth. And it is important to Him just like I know it is important to my daddy.
I love my dads. I hope I am showing it.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Change My Name

For all you girls (because I have determined that no guys read my blog and if they do they leave no comments)...

This is the song that has been going through my head. Read and analyze--the song, not my head. It is by Cadet. It truly describes what I want and what He continues to do in my day by day.

"Seeking, hoping, trying to be who you want* fearful, thankful, able to see a difference*Change my name, change my name* I left myself and you remain* Change my name* Come and take away my pride* Break it, burn it, I know that you've always hated it* It's hard to say but I love you more than all of this* I love you more than this* When it's all lost, I find a freedom* When it's all gone, I find a life* So give me a name and I'm yours forever* Give me a name and I'm yours* Change my name, change my name* I left myself and I'm not the same* I left myself in yesterday* I left myself and you remain* Change my name"

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Rudolph

I am not really thinking about Christmas, but my nose when I call this Rudolph. I stayed home from church today because I feel like crap and can barely speak. (as some people in the crowd go wild with screaming because, hurrah, Dessa can't talk) Last night I felt like singing Rebecca St. James' "God", but my sister told me to be quiet. She didn't tell me to shut up because I was really emotional and would cry at the drop of a hat. Some of you may identify with that.

I smell good right now. I got here and realized I needed deoderant so I used my uncles. Its Old Spice and smells really nice. (guys out there--Old Spice is hot, along with Stetson. Sadly though, I doubt any guys read this. Oh well.)

Last night when I was feeling so bad, I also worried about my friends and their troubles. I just really prayed for them hard. And cried, but that was expected. I cry easily and frequently. But I was just like, "God, what do I do?" He said, "Continue praying and doing what I ask." Sometimes His answers are so vague. And He reassured me that no matter how far down they went, He could still reach them if they called out to Him. So that helped. I don't want to see how far down they go; I want to see them rise, but He can and will rescue them. That is encouraging to me.

Do you talk to God? Does He answer you? Cause I can hear some of you saying, "How does/can God speak to you? He never does to me. Or He hasn't in awhile."

It's His Word. His Word is so wonderful. As you read it more and more, more of it gets stuck in your mind and heart. And then when you have questions and are crying out to Him like I was last night, it comes to your mind. And that is Him speaking. But we have to be ready to listen and commune with Him. Twila Paris said in one of her songs, "When He speaks to me, when I take the time to listen..." and that is it. Those words soothe your soul like none other can.

Last night concerning my friends, how I new what He was saying to me is He reminded me of Psalm 107:10-22. It says,
"Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains,
for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men,
for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy."
And that is what I pray for them. That they will let God rescue them and heal them.
God can also speak to you other ways but most common and the most trustworthy is His Word, the Holy Bible. And He will never tell you to do anything against or contrary to the Word. Never. If He does, it is not God you are listening to but someone else. A liar and deciever. Always check what you hear with His Word if it doesn't come from the Word. That is how you will know what is trustworthy and right.

Friday, October 07, 2005

Stuffy noses and making ditches

Currently I am struggling with a cold that my group of friends and I keeping passing back and forth among ourselves. We are practicing the Biblical principle of sharing in a sick, twisted way. Even my friend in Florida has it! I thought that was cool (another symptom of being sick, you want others to join in your misery).

I wanted to share also with you some stuff from Opened Windows by James Stewart. (Don't worry this is healthy, unlike the colds. I am sharing something good.)

He was talking about how to get the blessings of revival and what condition our hearts must have. And one of them that caught my eye was being prepared for the blessings so God will be able to pour them on you. And he used an image/story from the Bible.

In 2 Kings 3, the Israelites were stuck in a battle and they were sure they were going to die because they had no water. So they asked Elijah what they should do and he in turn asked God. And God said, "Make this valley full of ditches." After they were done digging the ditches God came and filled them full of water.

James Stewart says, "In like manner, when there is obedience on our part to the divine condition, there follows abundant blessing and continuous victory. The depth of the ditch shows the measure of the expected blessing."
The condition he mentions that is required of us for that blessing is true acknowledgement and confession of sin, "making ditches."
He says again, "There are times when we must stop praying for revival and get up from our knees and deal with the sin in our midst."
That really spoke to me in that I pray a lot for revival, but do I have a true revival, a turning away from my sin to the light that God offers? In myself I can see what that means for me, but as church I don't know what that means. Do we confront people of their sins openly? I always think, "I will pray for them and God will do it." But in that quote it says to stop praying for it, and deal with it. That is not openly accepted in our churches today. Charles Finney did it though. And he called people out on their sin from the pulpit. Wow! A bit scary. We say nowdays in our churches that judging a brother in Christ is wrong. But is there a difference between judging and dealing with sin? Where is the fine line there? I know there has to be one. In James 4:11-12 it says that God is the only one who can judge (which is true) and that we should stop judging one another. But in Matthew 18:15-17 it says that if a brother among you sins you should confront him quietly and if he continues to sin to meet with him and the elders and the pastor. And if that doesn't work to tell it to the church. If that doesn't work you are to "let him be as a heathen unto thee." I guess those two passages work together in unison when you think about it.
I wonder what our churches would be like if we followed those words.

It is something I have thought seriously about in the last few days. Please if you have anything to say or answer to my questions I have posed here, say something. It might be good to discuss.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

House update

For all those of you who are wondering...

At the moment house building is doing fine. All of in my family are so happy. It is great for us all to have good moods instead of being extremely stressed out and biting each others heads off.
Sheet-rock is going up. Soon there will be taping and texturing. It is so exciting to think that by this time next month, I will be living in a real house. With my own bedroom. Our own washer and dryer. A kitchen to cook things like cookies and pie in. No more campers, no more campers!

"And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people."
(Psalm 77:10-14)

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Sam pictures


















These are pictures of my lovely brat of a dog Sam. Isn't he cute?

Sorry

I am sorry that I haven't had the time to write in awhile, but you know how life is...

I am sorry that following Christ can be such a struggle sometimes, but when you find that where you belong is right there in His arms... every breath it took to get there is worth it.

I am sorry that we allow ourselves to be held down by sin when freedom in Christ waits for us, wanting us to soar.

And I am last and least of all sorry that I haven't had the chance to play the game Sorry for ages. Maybe when our house is done (and it is moving along fast at the moment, Praise God!) I will be able to have people over for a game of Sorry.

And we will be able to rejoice in the fact that God is there to take away our sorrow.