More Sesa Sensiblity

I was talking to my daughter Sarah and she said that a sesa actually means something like: a hill standing out in the middle of somewhere. But when you think about it there is sense to that because actually that is about what a sesa is. It is a big clump type hill (but really big) that rises up from the flat desert and there it is. I think that is one thing I really like about the Navajo language (I really don't know much about it so don't get the idea that I am some kind of linguist.) The Navajo language is descriptive. Even the fun names they give people are descriptive i.e. my brother in law John is Bushy Beard and he has a bushy beard. How descriptive is that? Sometimes it seems like when we talk in English we can be vague and we get the wrong meaning when someone talks. Some of our words sound alike and mean two different things. Like boar, bore and bore. Boar - a big male pig; bore - making someone feel uninterested or (how does one describe boring?) and bore - making a hole in something. I also like the clarity factor of a language like Navajo. I have sometimes heard the statement: Say what you mean and mean what you say. Sounds like that is what the Navajo language does. I think I will have to learn some more about it. At this point all I know about it amounts to a couple rocks out in the middle of nowhere doing nothing. Sometimes it seems that is a good description for many things I think I know about. I need to pile up more rocks.

Everywoman's Effective Elephant Eating

I mentioned before that I would talk about eating elephants. I think the term originally came from my mother in law to my husband but it came to ME via my husband. I often get myself into situations that seem endless. Many times each of us comes to a task in life that is too big to visualize an end to. There are those hopeless times that we have things we know we must do but can hardly even want to begin. Well those bad, hard, long times are when we must eat elephant. Dave did not elaborate as I do. He only advised me at the door of my complaint and lament by saying, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is: one bite at a time. Now as you know if you have looked at an elephant ever in your life that first of all they are not a very appetizing animal to think about eating but then neither are the things we have trouble getting into that seem endless and hopeless. Then once we actually get around to thinking about eating this beast how exactly shall it be prepared? I am a very culinary minded person so I think of those issues. OK - let's say we have it prepared. Of course we probably own a debt for the cost of the herbs and spices we would use but nevertheless let's say we got the thing cooked. Well, now how do we refrigerate the part we can't eat in one day? We can't exactly let the leftovers go bad before we get to them being we are eating this one bite at a time. Then of course I am not a person to eat things alone - I mean without side dishes and relishes. What goes good with elephant. Probably not anything as common as ketchup it just doesn't sound right. OK let's say we add some corn relish on the side and a little spinach salad for the iron. A person needs their strength for elelphant eating. Then what kind of beverage do we serve ourselves? Most likely milk - milk of magnesia maybe. Then we would want to eat some dessert and for elephant I would recommend pie - humble pie. All in all one just keeps eating and eating and eating until the elephant is tottally consumed. There are not a lot of ways to prepare leftover elephant and you wouldn't want to have any leftover anyway. Make sure to have a good steak knife because the skin is tough. If you do succeed in finishing elephant dishes make sure to ask someone else to do the dishes - in a large dishwasher.

Learning Styles

I remember the first time Dave brought home a computer. We had the kind that had to be hooked up with a cassette player to work. It was really strange. The printer made strange noises and to me the computer was simply an over-glorified typewriter. Give me my clackety clack any day over that crazy notion. Well eventually we got a better computer and eventually we got an aol account and eventually I tried it out. Well one thing led to another and before long I was chatting in the Christian chat room and e-mailing some of the people I talked to in there. That opened up a whole world that I enjoyed: PEOPLE. It wasn't long before I was learning more computer info and now I am S O L D on computers. I do tons of stuff on the computer and sometimes have to set a timer to remind myself that there are other things to do. I even have my own laptop. I applaud my mother in law because she is so computer knowlegeable and active. I get a little disgusted at my relative who doesn't want a computer generated Christmas greeting. Now I have advanced even more and I have THIS blog. Yesterday I learned how to put pictures on the blog and today I learned how to allow comments from non blogger friends who couldn't leave comments before. Now I want to learn what some of the terms mean that they were talking about in the Help sections I had to go to so I could learn picture posting and comment enableing. All this is to say that in looking back over all this I realize that I learn best by DOING. I can learn by reading but it doesn't sink in until I do it. When Dave or someone would sit at the computer and show me I couldn't get it in my head until I actually did it. That's my learning style. So if you were previously unable to comment on my blog you can do so now. Just click the "radio" button (another term I learned today from doing it myself) that says Other in the comment form after you have typed your comment. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Dearborn Chapel Girls

These three ladies are missionaries at Immanuel Mission near Four Corners in Arizona. They are all former students at Dearborn Chapel Sunday School in Dearborn Heights, MI. Becky Knopf on the left teaches 5th and 6th grade at the school. Ruth Bloom in the center is the Bookkeeper for the mission and Melissa Meinzinger(right) is the new Kindergarten teacher this year. Please pray for them and the others working at the mission to bring the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to the Navajo people.

Sesa Uhh

This is Sesa Uhh just outside the back door of the home where Ruth and John Bloom live at Immanuel Mission near the Sweetwater Chapter in the Navajo Reservation. It is a beautiful sight and only one of many beautiful panoramic scenes in the Southwest. My friend asked me what a sesa was so since a picture is worth a thousand words I will say no more.

My Four Dears

I have created a monster. I figured out how to post pictures. Well this is just too much fun. I hope my dears don't mind me choosing this photo that I love of them to experiment with. This was Laura, Heather, Sarah and Melissa on the Mother's Day trip they took me on. It was a cherished day. They are all such a blessing. Thank You Ladies. I love you -- MOM

Bumpy Road Picture

I think it worked - TaDah !!

Trying Picture

I am going to try to post a picture. It didn't work the first time but I will try again. This post is the explaination of the picture. This is the Bumpy Road a couple days after going in to Immanuel Mission. It had been graded but it was still very bumpy. It was obviously at sunset when we (RuthBloom, Becky Knopf, Melissa and I) were coming home from a long day of shopping. My favorite memory of that trip was when just before we got back we started to sing together, "The Love of God"

Keeping Up Defenses/Discipline

Many of us think of the discipline to mean punishment or what a parent does to a child when he is unruly and needs "discipline." It was explained to me at one time that discipline in fact means to guide. One of "Mr. Noah's" definitions says it does mean to punish and another in his list says it means "training that corrects, molds, strengthens or perfects." I like the training type definition the best. Unfortunately when correcting and molding are unsucessful the punishment definition needs to be used. I think I am experiencing both right now. (Since I cannot figure how to make this go down to a new line when I type from now on I will use the symbol PP to designate my desire to start a new paragraph.) PP First I am being punished via what I learned at one time is called self punishment. That means I am suffering from the result that occurs because of my own choices. Second, I am being disciplined in that God is leading me, correcting me, molding me, strengthening me and perfecting me through this experience by His Word, His inner presence and information He has made available to me (nothing wierd - just information that is consistent with The Word of God.) PP-Now it is no secret to most of you or probably all of you who might read this that I am (OK - let's be real open about this) OVERWEIGHT. I go on different diets, I try different techniques and I even proclaim to all around how wonderful the current "plan" is to me and possibly them if they'd only try it out. Then I lose my self-discipline and just try one small bite and it's down the slippery slope from there on out until I reach a point like the point I am at now. I experience the punishment of - feeling bad physically, emotionally and even spiritually. I get depressed, I don't handle problems well and I make great excuses, I don't get things done, I am tired and totally give in to instant self-gratification. And that is all the result of choices Me, Myself and I have made. PP- One of the things that God is using in disciplining me through this time (know that I have asked for His help and forgiveness) is a little devotion from Our Daily Bread a day by day devotion book published by Radio Bible Class. It was titled Cupcake Self-Discipline. The reading was from Titus 1:1-9 and the keynote verse was Proverbs 25:28 which states, " Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." At the bottom of this devotion is always a one-liner type point to remember. For that day it was, "To gain self-control, give Christ control. " I cut this out and placed it on my refrigerator and I noticed it again at this difficult time. PP- The point that speaks to me most heavily at this time was the analogy of lack of self control and being a city defenseless because of broken down walls. Broken down walls in a city back in the days that this scripture was written would have spelled certain disaster for the whole community of people living within the city. City walls were preventative defense from the enemy. The devotional went on to say that "Consistent self-discipline will build up our spirtual defense system against the forces of evil." Then it pointed out that by learning to discipline ordinary things - in my case eating, exercise etc. - we make habits of the kind of living that God wants us to live. PP- Now if a city wall is broken down it is most likely from laziness and from putting little importance on keeping the city safe. Too many other comforts have resulted from bad stewardship in important matters. I have allowed my city wall to become broken down. I have become lazy in my day to day practices and I have reaped an undefended attack from outside the city walls. PP- Thankfully, God has also blessed me with the access to some good materials with practical tips to help me through this struggle. He has shown me through His Word that He will forgive me when I ask Him to and He has given me promises of His presence and help if I only will pick up the rocks and start mending my walls. He has also made a great point of showing me through His Word that He can work through my weakness and show His perfect strength and that through Christ I can be strengthened in ALL things. PP-I am willing to get up and go and yet to let God do the leading in this wall building project. PP - One thing I forgot to add: My husband is another great blessing from God. He gives me great advice. He just reminded me that I needed to get started on eating an elephant - Another story for another day.

Bumpy Road

We just got home from our trip to Teec Nos Pas, AZ where we drove with Melissa to help her move to Immanuel Mission there on the Navajo Reservation. To say the least I was apprehensive of the whole trip. It seemed to be a bumpy road out there before we even got started. I let fear make the bumps and my faith in God's guidance was lacking. What a silly child I was. Yes, the trip was hard - but at the same time it was a beautiful trip filled with blessings and with lessons. Going out we had traffic problems, physical problems and fatique. But we made it - up to the bumpy road. Then when we turned off Hghwy 160 unto Navajo Road 351 we hit the bumpy road. There was 15 miles of washboard and wash out road. (Missionaries told us it was the worst they had seen in 18 years.) All around the road was the beauty of the dessert and the Carrizo Mountain range and even some wandering horses and some scurrying lizards to see. Dave drove Mel's car very carefully and in some places went down into washes one wheel at a time. We followed (Mel driving the van) him and I thought we would never get there. Sometimes we cringed at the bad road and sometimes we laughed as we washboarded and sang, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah with great vibrato. Finally just before dark - and Praise God He got us there before dark - we drove into the mission to waiting loving arms of John and Ruth Bloom. My fears during our stay never materialized. There was not a rattlesnake, black widow spider or scorpion seen the whole time. We made it back too not without other challenges but we are home. Mel is preparing to teach Kindergarten. I am playing on the computer. On the way back I was reading a devotion about God using everything to bring glory to Himself. Even the bumpy road - getting there and back and the last bumpy road in to the mission - DID bring glory to God. The vast design of earth and sky and the way all the details worked out and things that were provided along the way and the safety of the trip were all the hand of God. God tells us that whatever we do in word and deed should be done in the name of Lord. We are to glorify Him in all we do. This trip was a great experience of His glory and how great He is. Rejoice in The Lord - In everything give thanks. Even on bumpy roads.

Nailed It

A little girl in our neighborhood rides by our house sometimes on her tricycle and her mom walks behind. She's cute. She stops on the sidewalk just past our tree and lets out a loud giggle everytime she goes by. Her mom told me one day that her little girl laughs at our tree's face. She really likes our Mr. Tree. Quite a long while ago - maybe last year - we nailed on a set of eyes, a nose and a mouth to our tree. I am glad we chose a friendly tree face instead of a scary one. I don't think the little girl would have liked the scarey one. It is amazing how close the color of the fake face blends in to the color of the tree. It looks almost real. (Don't ya just get the chills?) Then one day the nose fell off and we checked the nail. The tree had actually grown itself around the nail. (Kind of like an ingrown toenail but this probably doesn't hurt the tree - in case any of you are tree huggers.) Dave had to get a tool to pry out the nail and then re attach the nose. The eyes and mouth are firmly imbedded by their nails. Dave explained that as the tree had grown it's ring over the time since the face had been nailed there that it had actually grown into the nails. The nose just wasn't on the nail just right and that is probably why it got knocked off when there wasn't enough nail for the hook on the back of the nose to hold on to. Last night in the middle of the night - can you figure why I would think of this THEN - I got to thinking about that tree. (The nose fell off a couple weeks ago so why I got this thought now is a wonderment for sure.) I wonder how many "features" that we have chosen to add to our person have actually been nailed to our life. What have we allowed to become part of us or what have we grown ourself around? I suppose this could be a good thing or a bad thing. It could be something like a habit - good or bad. What things do I nail to my life? What things SHOULD I nail to my life? What things need a tool to remove from my life that need not have been grown into my life. Someone said that you are what you eat. I guess you are also what you think - what you believe - what you spend time with. Perhaps the word eat could be interchanged with consume. I purposely nailed those facial features to my tree. I hope I nail good things onto my life. I would hope that those who pass by would smile at what they see. Hopefully the features I have grown into are not scary ones that turn little kids or anyone else away. What have YOU nailed on lately??.

What About Me

This blog has a profile set up but there are only 1200 characters allowed for the About Me place so I will do About Me on some posts. First of all it is important for me to say that I am all about The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who made the greatest difference in my life and is the core of who I am. I believe He is God and that He is God's Son and that He came to walk on earth among men to rescue them (mankind) from the certain punishment we deserve because we are born in sin and are unfit for God's presence. I believe God gave man (Adam) a choice and Adam chose to disobey God. But God loved man so much that He send His Son Jesus to lay down His life on Calvary so that man could have another choice - forgiveness and life with God eternally or eternal death that we deserve. So ultimately what I am about has to do and is governed by this core belief. If you are here as a friend, relative or even someone I don't know it is your choice to believe or not believe this for yourself and ultimately that is what YOU are about. What you choose to do in life is determined by if you are about YOU or if you are about GOD. Which is it?

Hey Ya' All

Since this is all really new to me I don't really know what I want to say. That is a real laugh because I usually have something to say even though sometimes I shouldn't say it. However, my daughter Melissa encouraged me to start this blog so at least I am getting started so if you are here you will have to be patient with me. I can't even figure out how to skip lines to start a new paragraph so this is going to be a learning experience to say the least. If you are here you probably already know me but just in case I will say that I am nearing the age of getting a discount at Old Country Buffet and definitely of the body shape that ought not to be eating there. I am a wife, mom and grandma, all of which I am very happy being. I am looking forward to when my husband retires from the regular world of work even though I know he won't stop working until he can't stand up. I hope we make it long enough to follow some of our dreams. I also am at the time of my life where I forget many things. An old friend recently told me it was OK to forget as long as one remembers who one is. So far so good but then sometimes I wonder who I really am. If you are a people I probably will like you although once in a while I might not like what you do or say or maybe if you are absolutely awful it might be more often I don't like what you do or say. This is all to say that I generally am a people person. Now I am wondering if this all was a big mistake to do or just a marginal error. Oh well, thanks for coming to "visit" me. I will try to write things of more substance and less ridiculous in the future. As time goes by I will try to write an epic novel of my novel life and you will all be able to read this great literary work. REJOICE everyone. Rejoice always in The Lord !!