sam feeds some turtles

When we visited Lotus Lake last week, my brother found some turtles that needed feeding.  And when I say some--I mean LOTS!!  Have a look, and hear his excitement. 

At the moment, this one activity is ranked in the top three things he has enjoyed most here.

The other day he said something that warmed my heart.  While we were on the moped he asked about how he could come here other than teaching.  I asked him, "are you thinking about coming back to Taiwan?"  He said, "Oh, I definately know I will be back here one day!" 

how to make old man's tea

One of my writing students, Juliet, wrote about "old man's tea" for her process essay this last year.  I thought in continuing the theme of tea in Taiwan I would share with you her essay.  Keep in mind she English is her foreign language and this was an assignment for her class.  Otherwise: enjoy learning how to make old man's tea from a Taiwanese young person!

"Old man’s tea" is an old Chinese convention. It is a nice kind of rest and recreation for leisure. Many people in Taiwan like “old man’s” tea and my boyfriend likes, too. He is older that me, so he is an old man, so he enjoys “old man’s” tea. My boyfriend thinks drinking the tea can help our body’s metabolism, and make our spirits become well. Would you like your health to get better? Would you like to learn how to make “old man’s” tea? Making “old man’s” tea is not difficult when you follow these three steps.

The first step to making “old man’s” tea is to get the things you need. You should choose a kind of tea you like because the tea has many different types and tastes. If you like mild flavors you should choose green tea, black tea, or wu long tea for a sweet and sharp taste. If you want to drink a fragrant, sweet tea, try one of the flower teas. They are not dry and coarse. After you choose your tea, then you need to prepare other stuff. You need to have a fire stove for boiling water, some drinking water a tea pot, tongs, tall narrow “smell cups” and a cloth. You need to have them all ready.

After you have completely prepared every thing, with nothing missing, you can start to make tea. First, put tea leaves in the tea pot. Next, boil the water and pour the water in the tea pot. It should soak for about three minutes. Take the first brew and wash the tea cups with it. This makes them hot. Also, pour the first brew into the “tall smell cups” to smell the tea. But, the first brew had is messy, so the first brew is not usually drank. Then put the hot water in the pot again. Remember, do not soak for too long of a time because, the tea will have an astringent taste.

Finally, the last step of making “old man’s” tea is to drink and enjoy the tea. First, give every one a smell cup and a tea cup. Then pour the second brew of tea into the smell cup. Then pour the tea from the smell cup into the tea cup. You can smell the smell cup’s scent. After wards, you can drink the tea. The tea will be hot, so you should be careful not to burn your mouth. When the second brew is gone, you can use the same tea leaves again to brew more tea. But, after soaking about five or six times, the tea leaves will have not taste. There fore you should change to new leaves and repeat the 2 and 3 steps.
   

No matter what, these three steps are very important: Prepare for, make and enjoy “old men’s” tea. Each one can not be forget on. Making “old man’s” tea is not difficult when you follow these steps. So you can try to learn to make “old man’s” tea and you will feel it is interesting. And, at the some time you will be experiencing a special part of Taiwanese culture.

taiwan tea

Taiwan's mountains are covered with tea farms. 

Here are some pictures of tea in Taiwan at different stages:

Pictures from various flickr accounts: 1. Tea-picking at the Taida Experimental Tea Garden 01, 2. IMG_8065, 3. pinglin + sandiaoling 019, 4. pinglin + sandiaoling 005, 5. pinglin + sandiaoling 008, 6. Alishan Forest Recreation Area, 7. Tea shop @ Taipei, 8. Teapot, 9. and more tea

old man's tea

Even though it was nine years ago, I still remember the very first time I saw a coffee mug full of green leaves and water.  I was shocked!  "What is that?"  My student laughed at me and said, "It's tea."  TEA!?!?!  To me, tea was some brown substance folded inside a small white filter (AKA: a tea bag), brewed hot, drunk cold. 

He offered me a little paper cup full of green leaves topped off with hot water. I tried it, and it was B.I.T.T.E.R.

Now, I love that bitter drink and serve it myself.  In fact, if you want to really "serve tea" in Taiwan there is an entire process that must be followed.  However, unlike the Japanese tea ritual, the tea ritual in Taiwan is more relaxed.  But, it does last a long time.  Brew a little, pour a little, drink a little.  Brew some more, pour some more, drink a little more.  Repeat.  This process is lovingly referred to as "old man's tea."

All over Taiwan, you can find groups of people sitting around drinking tea and socializing: at a souviener shop, in a temple, at the automechanic's, in front of their homes. 

Everytime I see a group of people sitting around drinking tea, I think: "that could be a church!"  I pray that one day it will be a group of believers sitting around discussing what God is doing in their lives as they sip their green tea at the end of the day, a Bible study group meeting to discuss the book of John, a family gathering to pray for each other and their lost neighbors. 

Oh, may it one day be true!!

In order to reach other cultures for Christ, we do not necessarily need to "change" them.  God can redeem cultural traditions in order to bring greater glory to Himself.  Isn't that cool?

This post was submitted to the Carnival of Beauty hosted and sponsored by Sallie at A Gracious Home.  This week the theme was The Beauty of Coffee and Tea.
 

nifty

Owlhaven recently had a fun post trying to find out the ABC's of her readers' whereabouts.  And she bestowed upon me her Very Interesting Person Award for my comment on her post. 

I don't have many mommy blogs in my bloglines, but I have been keeping an eye on the Owlhaven blog ever since I read about her garden--that's when I found out she had a large family.  I also really liked her stars, but once I saw her family picture and read a little more about her family, I was hooked. 

I was hooked because she is living the life I dreamed about as a teenager--oh except that I had dreamed of 12 kids, not just 8. ;)  However, maybe her family's not complete yet I don't know.  You wanna know a little secret?  I even had lists of possible names for all 12 children.  Sometimes they were named in alphbetical order (yes, I had a male and female choice for each letter), sometimes they were all Biblical. 

Anyway, since I am busy with grading finals and sick with a terrible cold, why don't you pop over and say hi.  You can check out her lastest garage sale finds.

yes is yes; no is no

Why do we needlessly feel that we must explain ourselves?  And, why do we ask others to promise that they really mean what they say?

During wedding week, my mom and I started saying "no explaination needed."  Yes, we will have different opinions and ideas, but since we were all competent women we could trust that even though they were different they were still all good ideas.  There was no real need to explain and justify every decision we made.  Oh, it made life so much easier.  We didn't have to defend everything; we argued less because we just trusted each other and quit justifying everything.

Recently when someone was going on ad nauseum about their answer when a simple "yes" or "no" would have sufficed, I remembered something my dad taught me a long time ago.  I had asked him to do something.  He said "yes."  I then asked him to "pinkie swear" that he really would do it.  He responded that his "yes was enough."   He then quoted the second half of James 5:12 "Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No,' no."

My eathly father was teaching me, but my Heavenly Father was convicting me.  I really did not need to ask others to promise above and beyond their "yes" and "no."  I needed to trust others and allow my own "yes"s and "no"s to simply be yes and no.

You know what?  Life is actually much easier when we know someone's "yes" is yes and their "no" is no.  No need to doubt.  No need to question or beg.  We can trust that they mean what they say.  Life is also eaiser when we don't have to "pinkie promise" or explain why.

So, I am consiously trying to once again be aware of the command in James 5:12--and be obedient.  Trust me; it's not as easy at it might seem.

a good thing (芒果剉冰)

This tasty treat is  芒果剉冰 (pronounced: mang gou chouw bing).

It is ice topped with fresh mango and condensed milk.  It costs about $1.25 USD. 

I love this dessert!  It is perfect on a hot summer afternoon after bike riding. 

If you ever happen to be near FengShan, give me a ring and I'll treat you to a bowl.

at work

"做你所愛，愛你所做，那你這輩子都不必再工作。"

"Do what you love and love what you do, and you
will never work a day in your life."

To pay my bills and allow me to live in Taiwan, I teach English majors at a college in Taiwan.  I love it!  :)  My favorite are my writing and public speaking classes.  I also enjoy my teaching method course.

Above is a picture of me with my English writing student Amy (photo by my brother, Sam). 

my 爸爸

You will have to work long and hard to convince me that my 爸爸 (pronounced baba, daddy) is not the best dad in the world.  (In other words, he is.) :)

I love my daddy with my whole heart.  He is one amazing man. 

One of the things I admire most about my father is that he is man enough to admit he is wrong.  Now, it doesn't happen often--that he is wrong, I mean--but when it does, he admits it and asks for forgiveness. 

I remember back in high school, my sister competed in track and basketball.  I, on the other hand, was into journalism and peer leadership programs.  My dad was able to go to Sarah's games and track meets.  He cheered her on and even kept score for the team.  I was jealous.  I wanted his attention too.  I told my mom about how much it hurt me that Daddy spent more time with Sarah because she was into sports, how he gave all his time and attention to her, but wouldn't even ask me about my activities.  You know what my wise mother told me?  "You have to tell him.  He doesn't know you feel this way."

So, I told him.  Right then he admitted that he had no idea I felt that way.  I told him that I understood that he couldn't come cheer me on as I designed the yearbook or tutored younger kids, but I would like for him to at least show interest in the things that I did.  He said he was sorry.  BUT, that is not the end of it.  Within the next week, he came to me and asked me specifically "so, how was peer leadership today?"  Oh, me and my daddy have had numerous conversations, but that is one I will never forget.  It's always been that way with him.  He doesn't just say "sorry" . . . he actually changes his behavior too.  Now that is a real man.

Another thing I admire about him is the way he loves his wife.  Once, my sister was having a disrespectful teen moment (like we all have had). While she was in the midst of yelling at our mom, our dad came into the living room and said, "you will not talk to my wife that way.  Go to your room now."  Mom, Dad, Sarah--they've all forgotten that moment.  But, I never will.  The fact that he choose to say "my wife" and not "your mother" spoke volumes to me at that moment. 

I also like that they are not afraid to show their affection for each other in front of us.  They love each other, and it shows.  I like that a lot.

I love the way my dad crafts words.  He is a wordsmith.  He is not "chatty"--so when he does speak, trust me, it is worth listening to.

My dad studies to prove himself as one who accurately handles the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).  He knows what he believes and knows why he believes it, but he not close-minded--a rare and delicate balance.  He is not afraid to think outside the box or to challenge the status quo.  My dad was not only my dad but also my pastor for the first 20 something years of my life.  Have you ever had one pastor that long?  Well, let me tell you, after having an excellent pastor that long it is really, really hard to find another one that meets the standard the first one set.

I love that my daddy will take time to spend with me and talk with me.  He values me and my opinions.  I love that he will share with me the things he is thinking about and pondering.  When I went home for my sister's wedding, I didn't really get to spend much time with him, but I rode home from the D/FW area to the Austin area with him in his truck.  While we were talking, he accidentally missed a turn and added an hour to our trip--I'm glad he did.  It gave me one more hour of alone time to talk to my daddy. 

Actually, me and my daddy are quite a bit alike.  And, I like that too. 

If I didn't know differently, I would like that he was the one who hung the moon.  I know my father is not perfect.  I know he has flaws, but as far as earthly fathers go, I really, really love, admire, and respect mine more than mere words can express.

Below are two pics of me and my daddy from approximately 26 years ago:

 

Happy Father's Day, Dad!!  I love you.

my living room smiled at me

Wednesday night I as I wiped off some sticky from my coffee table and then some other sticky substance from my laptop, I started composing in my head.  Life with a 12 year old is sticky.

I had a long day at school Thursday, I started to dread going home filled with puppy dog and little boy clutter everywhere.  I wanted to go home and just relax.  Well, when I got home, there was my brother at the door waiting for me, he opened the door and it smelled. 

It smelled like Pine Scented Lysol. :) Sam had cleaned up all the clutter.  He had swept, vacuumed, and mopped the living room and hallway.  It was wonderful!!  He did this all by himself with no prompting or asking.  He also washed a load of towels and a load of sheets during the day.  He also put my clothes in the wash and helped me to hang them up last night.

He asked me "is your house smiling at you?"  Yes, Sam, it is.  He is one great kid!!

I am glad I didn't really compose that first post with all the complaining because even though life with a 12 year old might be a little stickier than life alone, life with a 12 year is filled with lots more blessings too!! :)

so, what do i do?

After posting about my official extended singleness and then about a battle with Envy recently, I decided to explore the topic a little more this week.  The thing is, I now know coveting is not good. But what about longing--a strong persistant desire?

It wasn't too long ago that I was void of all longings for marriage.
At about the age of 16 or 17, God convicted me of desiring marriage and
motherhood more than desiring Him.  I repented of this, and He simply
lifted the desire from my h
eart.  Early in my college years, I
struggled once with a friend getting engaged, and God just laid it out
for me:  He was a good God who gave good gifts.  Marriage was a gift;
singleness was a gift.  I should celebrate my own gift, and celebrate
with others when He gifts them with marriage.  This perspective helped
me handle all the future college engagements I would be exposed to. 

Like I have mentioned before, I have never truly dated.  In high school, I always assumed I'd get married in college--just like my mom and dad did.  But, college came and went without even a single date.  But, I didn't really notice.  I was content with serving the Lord and growing closer to Him.

So, for about ten years, I was content. 
No dating, no courting, no beaus, no worries.  I was happy learning and growing.  I enjoyed knowing more about the Bible and how to apply it to my life. I learned more about what praise, prayer, and servant leadership meant in practice.

But then . . . sometime within the past year . . . the desire to be a
wife and a mother returned.  And it came back strong!  In her book,
Carolyn compares the growing of this desire to an alarm clock that gets
louder with every beep.  Mine wasn't a soft beep that slowly grew into a louder beep; mine was the kind that has two bells on the side and suddenly blasts into the air out of seemingly no where.

So, what do I do with it? 

First, I acknowledge that it is there---that was actually a huge step for me. Then I must look at what this means.  It could mean that even the longings are sin--that I have taken back what I gave to God.  That I no longer acknowledge his Lordship in my life.  --OR-- It could be that since He is the one who gives desires that He is preparing me for something new.  Getting my heart ready for what is further along in this unknown path. --OR-- Maybe I am just at a point in the path where God is teaching me more about Him and His grace and is using these longings to do the teaching.

So, what can I do? 

I give it back to the One from which it came.  I am honest with Him about what I am feeling and experiencing.  I place my hope in Him alone.  I think there is a difference between desire and coveting.  After I prayed and asked Him to give me discernment about this new desire, as long as He doesn't say "amanda, this desire not from Me. My gift for you is singleness,"  I must guard against coveting but not squelsh the desire--a very fine line to walk.

You know, I'll be honest with ya, as long as the word I had from the Lord was "be single.  Serve me best right now by remaining unmarried." Life was easier.  No date = no worries because I knew God's best was for me to be single.  It wasn't rejection because no one found me attractive--it was obedience.  But, now, if things have changed and marriage is down the road . . . it is much easier to worry about what is wrong with me if no one pursues me.  Much easier to doubt God's soverginity and try to control things myself.

And, to be even more honest, it was easier to allow God to be God.  As long as the word I had from the Lord was to "be single" it was all good because "I" can do that.  "I" can control that.  I am thankful for His help in taking away the desires for ten years; I am thankful for His protection, guidance and grace these ten years.  But, really, it was much easier than where I am now because I didn't have to trust Him with a hope deferred--because there was nothing to hope for before. 

So, what do I do?

Well, I found an excellent book and read it.  In this book, Carolyn McCulley points single women to the Proverbs 31 woman.  Carolyn reminds us that we don't need to wait for a wedding day for our "real life" to begin.  We are to live life now.  She takes a look at each character trait of the Proverbs 31 woman and discusses how we, as single women, can cultivate that trait in our lives right now.  Excellent wisdom.  (I highly reccomend this book to all female members of the extended singleness club.)

Right now, at this moment,  God's will for me is to be single--and He knows why; He also knows whether this will ever change or not. 

So, what am I supposed to do?

I live my life enjoying Him, glorifing Him, and trusting Him that if it is His will one day I will be interrupted. 

sam answers some questions

Here is a little interview I gave my kid brother his first week here.  He has now been here almost a month and a half now.  However, I thought I'd let you hear some of his opinions on life in Taiwan.  Hopefully, now that I know how to do this . . . there will be a few more! :)

envy, jealousy, and covetousness

I first knew about the difference between jeaously and envy in seventh grade when we had a lesson on the difference in meaning between "I am jealous of you" and "I envy you." 

Jealous: afraid of losing something you already have--specifically affection or a position
Envy: wanting something you don't have.

The example our teacher used at the time was a girl and her boyfriend.  The girl who has no boyfriend and wants one is envious of girls who have one.  The girl who has a boyfriend and doesn't like other girls talking to him is full of jealousy.

However, after my last post, I found an article on crosswalk.com entitled Why Not Me? A Single Woman's Struggle with Envy.  The author, Carolyn McCulley, explains the difference between envy and covetousness.

I didn't know about this third one and how it is different until now.  And she is right.

I probably should have used the word covet in my post yesterday--not envy.  According to both her article and dictionary.com envy is longing with resentment towards the person who has what you desire, while coveting is longing for what someone else has.

When I first read this, I actually proudly thought "oh that is good.  I don't resent.  Longing without resentment is better than longing with resentment.  This is not so bad." 

Oh, how easily we can be deceived!  Good thing I kept reading.

Carolyn points out in her article that God deals with coveting what our neighbor has in the tenth commandmant. Basically, if you will recall with me, God tells His people "Thou shalt not covet."  We are not supposed to covet--"wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person)."  In other words, it is not "not so bad."  It is sin.

You know, it is easy for me to think that I am a "good girl" and for me to give off the image that I am a "good girl" to others.  I do what I am "supposed to." I respect my elders.  I don't do overtly "bad" things.  I do a pretty good job staying away of the "things of the flesh" listed in Galations 5:19-21: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation
in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, outbursts of
anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong
except those in your own little group, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin."  Those are bad things, obviously. 

But, trust me, I still struggle with sin.  If you are a careful reader (and click thru on scripture references) or if you have memorized this passage of scripture, you will know I left out two of the things in this list of "sinful nature" qualities: jealousy and envy.  God lists envy right next to "participation in demonic activities" and "drunken orgies." 

It is easy for me to allow the hot tears of longing to flow down my cheeks as I hold a friend's newborn.  They feel like they are justified tears, good, healthy tears.  But, really, in all honesty, they are sinful tears.  I am coveting what my neighbor has.  That is not good.  The Bible clearly tells us coveting is wrong.

But there is good news for me--and for others who struggle with longing for the things that others have been blessed with.  We do not have to live under the domain of our sinful nature.  Here is how Carolyn describes it in her article:

As the apostle Paul writes in Titus, we were once enslaved to sins like envy. But then
the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared! We were saved, not only from this miserable, sin-filled existence, but from the righteous wrath of God. And not only were we spared, we were made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Heirs! We live as those who will one day inherit everything! So why do we resent when someone else receives some earthly trinket? (I am making an argument here, but I am not by extension calling marriage and family mere trinkets.)
Knowing this, we are then freed to love one another earnestly. We don’t have to covet, envy, and resent what happens to us in this life. We have been set free from these passions because we have been born again of imperishable seed.

Envy and coveteousness can and should be put away.  And, thankfully, I don't have to do it in Amanda's power.  Thankfully, my gracious God has given me his Holy Spirit to help me grow in spiritual maturity to become more like Him.

my new banner

Becky (aka Joyful Mother) helped me create my new blog banner.  She has a graphics website where she offers banners and other graphics as purchase wear.  Go check her out!

it happened again

I was surfing a few blogs.  I stumble across cool women about my age or a little younger.  I like what I see and read.  Then it happens. 

I glance at the bios--"wife and mother of three"--then Envy with her long, pointy nails and deep green eyes knocks on the door.  She wants to come in and set up residence in my heart. 

After the third or fourth blog by a young happy-wife-and-mother, I close all the tabs and wonder if I'll be able to find them again, but I know I can't stay on those sites any longer right now.  In fact, I put the laptop to sleep and question whether surfing for new blogs is a good idea at all if I am going to keep encountering blogs by women five years younger than me that are married with children.  How else can I keep Evny from knocking on the door? 

And, then, my heart turns to the only place where I can find refuge.  The one place that without a doubt I can receive solace.  "Oh Daddy-God, I need you." 

In the moments that follow my cry for help, I am reminded of something I read a few weeks ago in Caroyln McCulley's book Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? (which at the moment is MIA, so I can't quote verbaitm).  She pointed out that my greatest need is a Savior.  And, since God has given me the gift of salvation, giving me a husband is a small task; moreover, I can trust Him so much and be so thankful that my greatest need of all--saving grace--has been taken care of.  After reminding me of this truth, He whispered to my heart of hearts "I am God and there is no other.  I am all-loving and all-powerful, all the time.  Trust me."

Ahh.  What a great God we have.  I am so thankful He interacts with us in a very real and personal way.  I am glad He is so very trustworthy.  I am eternally grateful for the free gift of salvation He has given to me.  He is a grace-filled God, and I am a grace-needing sinner.  Praise the Lord!  He is slow to anger and abounding in love.  Nothing is impossible for Him!

(oh, and if you are a young happy-wife-and-mother, please know i rejoice for--not resent--you, but that doesn't mean i still do not struggle with the green-eyed monster of envy when i visit your blog and read your bio.)

things i don't like to hear

"Oh, you're time will come."

"Once you are completely satisified in being single, then God will give you a husband."

it's official

That's right.  It is now official.  I am now (and have been for over a month) in the state of "extended singleness."

That is, at least according to Caroyln McCulley in her book Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?. There is more than one way to join this exclusive group of men and women, but I get to be a card-carrying memeber of the "extended singleness" club because I have a younger sibling who is married.

I was a little worried, selfishly, that I would hear many, many dreaded comments at the wedding.  "So, when are you getting married?"  "You're next!"  "Don't worry; your time will come."  But to my relief, it only happened once--after the bride and groom were on their merry way. 

I am so glad that I was able to celebrate and rejoice in my sister's wedding without anyone reminding me that I was not married.  It helped me so much to enjoy Sarah's wedding.

After Sarah and Chad were pelted with bubbles as they ran to their car, and we had waved goodbye, one of my dear aunts said to me "you're next." 

I told her "well, maybe not."

To which she replied, "We'll just change the colors." 

I then said, "It might not just be that I'm not next.  It might be that I never get married." A look of shock filled her face, and I continued, "and, you know what?  That is perfectly ok." 

And she responded with a hug and the words, "you are right." 

And so, that is how I was initiated into my official state of "extended singleness."  To tell the truth, it wasn't too bad.

P.S. she was saying "you're right" to the fact that it is ok . . . not to the fact that she thinks I will never marry. :)

before, during and after

Kady, my coworker and friend, showcases Sam's jump into the air.  :) 

(In the background is a view of the ocean and mountains of our little island.)

the toliet bowl--a place to eat

Sam and I visited a very interesting resturant his second week here in Taiwan.  It is called "Modern Toilet."  It even made international news awhile back when it first opened.

Do you see in the photo above that my dinner was actually served in a toliet bowl?  Cool right?  You can see below that we got to eat our dessert--ice cream--out of Asian-style squatty potties!!

In addition to having our food served in toliets and bathtubs, all the decorations were toliet themed.  Even our seats were toliets and the tables were sinks covered in glass.  If you ask me, the idea is quite original--even if a little disgusting.  But, as far as the perfect place to take a 12 year old boy to eat Chinese food--I can think of no other place!!

www.flickr.com

home sweet home

You know the feeling.  I know you do. 

You go away on a trip out of town.  You stay in a hotel room or in someone's guest room.  It's nice at first--a fancy recliner to sit in, new things on the walls to look at and enjoy, different trees lining the roads, a new set of stores to explore.  But, then . . . after awhile, you long for the familar again. 

There is a kind of relaxing that your body does as you turn back into your old neighborhood.  You open the front door to your own home and the scent of home washes over you.  It feels so good to sit on your old couch, to sleep in your own bed.  Ahh, home, sweet, home.

The first time this happened to me in Taiwan, it shocked me.  I left my apartment for a few days out of town.  When I walked into a home that looked like nothing I would or even could have in the States, I felt at home.  That is because it was my home.  It was a wonderful feeling.  I remember making a mental note of that moment.  It happened three years ago.  I've never questioned it since.

But, I digress. 

I have missed blogging.  My mom asked me the other day "are you really that busy?"  In some ways yes and in some ways no.  I know that in life there is not really such thing as "no time for . . . "  We choose to spend our time the way we spend it.  If I don't have time for blogging, it is because I am choosing to spend time on something else. 

Since my sister's wedding--which was over a month ago--I have only posted 9 times.  A little break was nice, but I miss taking the time to read other's blogs and blog myself.  But, like I said, I have choosen to spend my time in other ways--namely with my kid brother. 

So, what does this have to do with home sweet home, you ask?  Well, opening up the website of my blogging service is like opening the front door and breathing in the scent of home.  Sending words deep into the blogosphere is like sitting on my own worn couch. 

I regret that my little break from blogging conincided with the same time I was to be  blogging weekly with a Beth Moore Bible Study Group.  The study we were doing, Living Beyond Yourself, is/was incredible--life changing really.  After looking at who is the Holy Spirit, she took us through the fruit (yes, singular) of the Spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  I apologize to the group for not upholding my commitment to the weekly posting.  Perhaps this summer I can do a series on the fruit of the Spirit.  I am a sinner saved by grace.

I can't promise daily posts just yet, but I do know that I am going to begin posting more regularly again because well . . . it is like coming home.