I do believe that July of this year has been one of most bitter-sweet I have ever experienced. My birthday was surely the worst I have ever had--the sadness was more than I can talk about. Not that I want to quit celebrating birthdays--I am grateful to God for each new year He gives --getting older is wonderful to me!!!--except the "no gymnatics" part. I would love to do flips with Emma, but I know that would not be a smart move.
In the middle of all this sadness, I sometimes feel like people all around me are living as if they are "on a drama stage" --not realizing that they are real live people. The contrast of IMAGE versus SUBSTANCE keeps pouring through my mind. We are all so driven by this greedy culture. Our county is so controlled by night time and daytime Soaps on TV, what is done in the movies and what is advertized for us to have to be happy on the TV and in other media--and we seem to think that those "IMAGE" people are real humans--living real lives. It frightens me that many younger people are building NO Character or Substance into their lives. So much is so very shallow. This seems to be "final result" of MY generations' "ME FIRST ATTITUDE" --- "What will I Get out of this?" An indoctrination that we have all lived with for 40+ years in our Western society. It seems to be exponentially ( I don't that is spelled correctly) rolling along and hitting it's peak. I'm not sure all of us--including me--are really concentrating on Loving God and Loving Others--it's really all about ME. True LOVING is so much more about GIVING than most of us can comprehend. What would we do without Jesus' example!!??
Those of you who are reading this, undoubtedly know me, or you wouldn't be bothering to read this. Please be assured that I am praying constantly for YOU that you won't allow the society we live in to squeeze you into its' selfish mold. I hope you will pray that for me too.--Please, God spare us from our own selfishness.
This building project that we are working on is amazing and just keeps on growing. Right now we are looking directly in the garage from the place where our dining room table usually sits. The walls all had to be taken out!! Today the electrician-started in with "YOU NEED this --this and this." He insisted we put in undercounter lighting for the cupboards. That was the limit in my mind. I said "we can feed two kids for a year for the cost of that--NO WAY!" It's so so easy to just keep looking at the grass on the other side of the fence and think that it is so much sweeter!!! A LIE from the PIT! There is usually no grass--let alone healthier grass!
I know YOU won't be fooled.....:-)
On the "sweet side" of the bitter/sweet---We have had a wonderful time with our children , grandchildren and extended family this month.
Many fun times at the pool. Andy and Daniel were working on an independent film for 2 weeks, so Lynn was the chief childcare person. I think there were lots of parties at our house while we were gone on vacation.
Bill and I had about ten days at the cabin and then travelled with my parents to Florida for my nephew Stephen's wedding on my parents 62nd wedding anniversary.
Our nephew Nicolas also got engaged to Rebecca and a wedding is planned for December before my sister Nan and her husband Ken go back to Antigua in January. Stephen married Hilda who is Hispanic and they did some fun interesting traditions at the wedding. Like a lasso at the altar.!!
After the celebrations we took a very relaxing ride out into the Gulf of Mexico from Tarpon Springs. We took mom and dad there for a Greek dinner for their anniversary, but ended up at a very American restaurant!
I am so grateful to our dear Lord that He gives us peace in the midst of chaos--only He can do that!
There were many other tales this month, but I know you are already exhausted!!!
