Passports!!!

I'm not sure how well these comparison passport images transmit...but I had to share!! The 1st one was taken in 1992 before my TLC trip to Eastern Europe (not sure that it's really a fair representation of how I was lookin at the time, but a hoot anyway!) And I (thankfully) just received the new one a couple of days ago so I'll be able to take the trip to Germany and Austria this November. THIS is the difference 15 years makes!!! It's like a textbook example of how the aging process (ie "life") works. I cannot explain to you why I chose to wear a "sailor-suit" in that 1st picture....unexplainable! Thank goodness for smaller hair and professional eyebrow grooming! I found this very amusing and hope it gives ya'll a laugh, too!:)

(and just FYI, this is the cancelled passport,

so not a security risk!)

Prayer

I read the following devotional awhile back, but haven't posted it. Just last night I was discussing with a young friend how I believe a legacy of prayer plus the prayers of others for us has a protective and shielding quality in times of crisis...I think it can guard us even from things we don't fully understand, like depression and other disorders. So grateful for such a heritage! However, despite these strong and somewhat esoteric beliefs, I think "praying" is one of my weakest areas. But how much we need to do it! In just our little blog world, there is a strong need to pray for Cherie's cousin, Jenny's friend, Heather's safety, my very ill uncle and the everongoing issues with Mom....and I'm sure there are many more. It can be overwhelming! I have very few of "the answers" here...but I'm challenged to "dig deeper" as the oldtimers say, and very thankful that God's presence and provision is unshakable!

{Psalm 51:11: "Devotions from the Studio" (Michael Card)
Again and again in the laments of the Old Testament we hear the lamentor pleading to God for a renewed sense of His Presence. In time, after reading the psalms of lament, you discover that God’s Presence is really the one and only answer that is being sought. The laments in the Bible (as well as our own laments) teach us that what we ask for in prayer is almost certainly what we do not need the most. Because what we need the most is the Presence of God. ( Ps. 10:1, 88:14)
The single answer to all the prayers of lament in the Old Testament is hinted at in Isaiah 7:14, where one of the names of the Messiah is revealed to be “Immanuel” “God with us.” The Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is the fundamental, exhaustive answer to the laments of the ages;
“Where are You?” “Why have You abandoned me?” “When will you show up?”
The perfect, complete answer? The flesh and blood of Jesus of Nazareth, the One who is with us, who promises “I am with you always,” who never leaves nor forsakes.}

Scattered...

I've been listening to and thinking on a song from MC's latest CD ("The Hidden Face of God")...We Are Not Scattered Strangers. Speaks to the interconnectedness of the worldwide church body...how brothers and sisters in the Lord are truly family...what a great concept.And I happen to think it applys so well to the blogging community we have here...as scattered as we are all over the place...as I throw words into the wind, I know they will be received and carried (for the most part) by like minded Friends. I love the connection! I'm sure this idea could be better developed, but I'll just leave it there! Things have been rather "scattered" in general...so here's a little list of what's happenin around here:)

• We spent alot of Friday with Mom at the hospital...just for tests, thankfully, but that's always an ordeal. I am not quite ready to accept the preposterous claims of MM, but after MANY experiences w/ the health care community, I am mostly ready to scream and kick at the injustice and inefficiencies of it all...can be EXTREMELY stressful! But still, so lucky to have the ability to even have Mom receive this advanced, necessary test..not to mention the incredible therapy, specialists, etc. What a mix! (And glad that the heart test was mostly OK)
• I am thick into the planning of the short Salzburg/Munich trip. Things were seeming to fall apart a couple days ago, but now we've moved it back to the 1st week of Nov. due to our lack of knowledge of how high prices are at the end of Sept./Oct. Of course, if I had properly read my Rick Steves book, would have known that!! (Never neglect RS:) We are greatly excited about this, but also apprehensive. Planning to visit the "Fam" at the Neuschwanstein Castle. hehe! Any tips/ideas/prayers would be appreciated!!
• I have been plagued for about a month with the pesky sounds of a possible mouse over my bed!! If you know me, you know this has led to much obsession, checking, imagining! (And to my poor Dad being called in to silently gaze up at the ceiling, listening for the slightest noise, which always stops,of course...then having to go up and look around the hot attic!) I did NOT need this extra stress on my frazzled and possibly hallucinating brain (KIDDING)!! Last Thurs. had the trusty exterminator man come out...sounds have subsided...so we'll see what happens!
• Was able to see Kayla and fam. for a short time last night as they came back through en route to FL. They were all in remarkably good spirits. Sad to see them go! Ethan wanted to know if was I coming home w/them. Gotta love when kiddos say such nice things to ya:) What a trip they have had!
• Finally, I must mention the incredible article by Tony Snow I read this weekend in July's CT...So Good! This man has gone even higher in my estimation (Despite having his unenviable job.) The article is Cancer's Unexpected Blessings. His perspective is right on! So many good lines to quote..but you should just read it! http://www.ctlibrary.com/47315 Always good to remember that times of "quandary" can draw us closer to God..and clearer on the things that really matter. And also good to be reminded that we really will all be together...instead of scattered..."on the other side."

Balancing...

I really do not intend to every Mon. post the catholic bulletin readings for ya'll:)....(of course this is hugely exciting, but still not my intent!) However, for whatever reason, this writer has really been speaking to me...right where my struggle for the moment seems to be. "Juggling" or "balancing" our daily lives will, I fear, be a lifetime endeavor...wouldn't it be nice if someday we would just arrive at perfection....but wait a minute, I guess that will happen someday in Heaven....but definitely not here. Here are a few things I am attempting to balance at the moment:

• for starters, this whole blogging thing. Contrary to my last posting, I'm afraid it really is "all about me"...mostly in a good way that encourages relationships, honesty, self-inspection, creativity.....but the flip side to that (at least for me) are the negatives of OVER self-inspection, comparison, self-pity, doubt, and possible dishonesty. Hmmm....is it worth it?
• included in my blogging self-doubting is the issue of pictures....now I enjoy them as much as the next person, but that's not what mine started out to be...and frankly, I obviously don't "have" the pretty children to post pics of.....so here again, trying not overthink this...and realize blogging itself probably means different things to different people...must allow for and just enjoy the diversity.
• here's another big one for me: high expectations of myself and others. And the sad truth...mostly, people disappoint you....but sometimes they don't!...gotta keep a balance. (Must add a disclaimer...this is NOT related to the blogging world...but to other "stuff"...just wanted to clarify!)
• somewhat related....feeling a need to keep a good balance between realistic living (which often means negative to me) and maintaining a sense of hope & joy in the Lord. This takes work...and trust. (And maybe like Shortal says, giving up on the "perfect".)
• Another thing.....feeling judgemental lately about what I see as clear financial waste and frivolous spending...not my business to judge how others spend their money...while I myself "waste" a fairly significant amount on Starbucks,etc. and am presently planning an "unnecessary" trip to Europe. Still...there does seem to be a fairly low consciousness among many of the needs of others...real needs, not just luxuries. But again, it probably is OK to "enjoy" what is well-earned and well-saved without a sense of guilt.
• and (the constant balance for me and probably many of you) taking time for self-care while caring well for those entrusted to me. No great thoughts here, just a real realization of the need to do what I do with kindness..and often that is achieved only if in a good "place" myself.

Alright, I've rambled enough, and not sure much of this makes any sense.....but now you can see why the following essay spoke to me...and hopefully will for someone else. "Listening to Jesus"....what a privilege! (and if you're sick of my catholic postings, just skip this!) And, as always, thanks for listening!

[I can think of my life as a balance beam. Most of the time I'm teetering from one side to the other, just trying to stay on the beam. Sometimes I sail along, in balance, even doing a graceful pirouette or two. Just as often I fall flat, lie there stunned for a bit, eventually pick myself up, wince at the bruises, and get back on the beam. That's my life. Today's Gospel about Martha and Mary, taken with last Sunday's Gospel of the good Samaritan, is all about keeping life in balance. Last week we heard that to be a good neighbor is to allow ourselves to be interrupted by the need of the person placed in our path. Today, Jesus tells Martha to stop fussing about serving and join her sister in listening to Jesus. The good Samaritan need to take immediate action; Martha needs less activity and more contemplation. Both need to adjust their plans to respond to the invitation of the moment. Action on behalf of the needy on our path is different from that frenetic running in place many of us substitute for action. We can exhaust ourselves running in place, but we don't get anywhere. Griping is a form of running in place. So are worry, resentment, regret, and procrastination. We spend a lot of energy on unnecessary tasks and then, when we are needed, we don't have what it takes to step in and help. We don't know what happened after Jesus spoke to Martha. We might imagine she was angry her little sister didn't have to help. Maybe Jesus was kidding Martha a little bit. Maybe He was sharing with her a little joke about her tendency to fuss, and maybe what she did was throw off her apron, give up on the "perfect meal" she had envisioned, and joined her sister. I like to think that's what I'd do - when my life is in balance. Paige Byrne Shortal ]

It's Not About You

Several Sunday evenings at our church have recently been spent studying on "what makes a successful church". Now this is a big..but important..subject, and I know there are lots of opinions here (and I again refer you to Tom's article that I linked to several blogs ago...really worthy words!) My pastor closed the subject on a really good note by focusing on "what is your motive for ministry." This applies to each of us as individuals and then as a collective body. Our love for Christ must be our main motivator (2 Cor. 5:14,15) This (in essence) was his closing statement..."Each of us must get to the bottom of why we do what we do: our enthusiasm and longevity will then increase, and God will be able to bless our endeavors." And that is my desire...to not get caught up in self-motives that really are unproductive anyway...but to honor and please the Lord in any area of my life choices and activities. This line of thought goes really well with a meditation from last Sunday in my Catholic bulletin...both an encouragement and focus-reminder to me.

In Luke Chapter 10 Jesus gives his disciples a lot of instructions. Jesus' instructions can be put under one heading: It's Not About You. Folks are kind to you? That's nice, but it's not about you. Folks reject you? That hurts, but it's not about you. You're successful and feeling pretty good about it? Don't get used to it, because it's not about you. It's the message. Spread the Gospel. Heal the sick. Be witnesses to a loving God. Saint Paul puts it another way. He writes "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Nothing else matters to Paul. I might be thinking now of ministers - pastors, preachers, music ministers, writers of bulletin meditations, and also teachers, doctors, therapists, counselors, social workers - all those involved in service to another human being in their need. All of us get attached to the result. We get attached to the praise. We want folks to like us, and so we find ourselves either afraid to offend or justifying our offensive ways and blaming the unappreciated ingrates who reject us. It's not about you - or me. It's about the message. Jesus shows us the way to God and the way to holy living on this earth. We can receive what he teaches and try to put it into practice, or we can reject the teaching and the messenger too. We messengers - all of us who call ourselves disciples - must remember that no messenger is worthy of the message. We each must be converted by the message every day. Only then do we stand a chance of being God's good instrument and true messenger.
Paige Byrne Shortal



On a fairly unrelated note, it was great to pick up Selah's "Greatest Hymns" CD at Goodwill for really cheap this weekend...I'm enjoying it now...gotta love Goodwill!

A few fun pics!

It was really good to have Kayla and her family visiting for a few days...here are a few pics. from our time together. The boys are very, very fun...and I love getting to be "Aunt Kimmy" to them!! (wish we lived closer together so that could happen all the time.)

Old Friends In Jackson Square...


and with our cousin Liz...


The boys in Mardi Gras masks...too cute!


Baby Dylan was the only one willing to jig...but he was pretty wonderful!


Landon is a great wearer of hats!


[ Below I am posting another picture of a very cool painting I took in New Orleans...I've seen quite a few paintings by this man locally and he is gaining "fame" as a La. artist. Check it out...my Mom was trying to have me explain the painting...some things you just can't explain! You either like it

or not!]

RE Comments:
YES!!...Beignets were definitely enjoyed by all!!:) (Of course when it comes to the boys, "enjoy" includes adding extra sugar!) If you have never had Beignets (french doughnuts) please come visit me asap! Actually, this is a great time to visit New Orleans..the tourism is needed, tickets are pretty cheap, and it's the best way to feel like you're in Europe w/o actually going there...ya'll come down!

And....thanks for the sweet "smashing" comments...KAYLA YOU LOOK SMASHING TOO!!!!!!!!!

And....yes the architectural work in cathedrals is certainly more than frivolous show...any time spent in such beautiful, hallowed places can definitely draw us upwards to God..away from Self. We have much to learn from such design...sadly, this is rarely recognized in current church planning. Lots to discuss here!:)

People...

Intelligent people talk about ideas...

Average people talk about things...

Foolish people talk about other people.

I saw this quote in (of all places) a French Quarter shop...and it has me thinking. I can be as guilty as the next person (maybe more) of "Talking too much" and I am working on that. I do not want to be one of those people who when you're done visiting with them, you feel like a few people have been run down, at the least. One of the things I am proudest most of my closest group of friends is that they are people who have something to say...our conversations are not just mindless endeavors. Anyway, that's one thing I'm thinking about today! It's been a busy few days...Kayla and Fam. have been here, and we have had a nice time...including some rich conversation (I think even Harold had a decent time, even though I got him lost a couple of times in New Orleans!) Hopefully I will post some pics. once developed.

Another issue I've been thinking on this July 4th week is that it's really people who matter to God...not your color or the country you happen to belong to. Now don't get me wrong, I am very grateful to happen to live in what is the truly the best country on earth, however I fail to see how that makes me any more special than any other soul. I have been really bothered by the horrible language being used in the immigration debate...maybe because I am thick into the rereading of the Thoene "Zion Covenant" books (btw, the new ones are GREAT!). Some of the language I've heard that makes me mad goes something like this..."Well of course we want immigration into this country...we just want to control it so we make sure the right kind of people are coming in!!!" This sounds remarkably similar to the isolationist language used in the WWII era which barred thousands of Jewish refugees from entering our country...of course the end result was their deaths. Obviously there are clear situational differences....but not so much in attitude. I've heard people wonder how the Nazis were able to implement such awful policies...and in the next breath make a derogatory statement about another racial group....well, that's how it happened! Maybe I see it more in the South where racism seems more blatant...but I don't really think so...the mood of the country seems very "us vs. them." OF COURSE the borders should be secured, etc....but I truly hope this national discussion can become more healthy...but that's doubtful as it seems to all be a game to many politicans and pundits. But I hope that we, at least....who support missions, go on mission trips, and name the name of Christ can at least be consistent in our views toward other nationalities...and realize that God's Grace was shed on all...not just for us lucky Americans.

*(I hope that Barbra Streisand's song has been playing in your head as it has mine as I've written this post!:) Couldn't resist!)