You can visit my blogs on myspace, but I will continue to read whatever is posted in this xanga community, where it all began, for me...

And, if you are a friend who is now far away in another time zone, know that you're prayed for, every morning.

Local friends and family are prayed for, too.

Look for J. E. on myspace if you want daily thoughtful writing....

Currently Reading Actual Miles: Don Henley's Greatest Hits see related

the thrill of it all

There's the thrill of having a little kid hug me in church and telling her parents, "That's my summer school teacher! I like her!"

There's the sweet amusement of walking into my summer school classroom and seeing my students sitting demurely at their desks, hands folded, eyes twinkling as they know, and I know, that they were tearing around the room just moments before, but they're happily waiting for a worship story and songs.

There's the warm pleasure of having a daughter call and say, "Mom, do you have time for lunch?"

There's the appreciation of having son say helpfully, "I'm heading over to the market, what drink can I get for you?"  And he brings back just the right one.

There's the excited joy of waiting with bated breath in a wildly-decorated room, waiting with friends to shout "SURPRISE!" to a dear young man, and then seeing his face as it registers different levels of disbelief and pleasure.  There's the pleasure of walking around that group and listening to animated conversations, all spoken by bright and ambitious young people, none of whom had to 'take a drink to loosen up' for the occasion.

There's the sigh of comfort of just sitting down for a few minutes and watching Johnny Depp chew the scenery and look great doing it.  And holding a plateful of delicious food that I did not have to cook, serve, or wash dishes for afterwards.  (Not that the 'cook' part factors much in my daily routine.)

There's the high quick incisive laughter as I watch cutting satire on "Celebrity Deathmatch," one of my guilty pleasures.  It's sharp writing!!

There's the relief of finally collapsing into a comfortable Swedish Foam bed at 1l:50 last night after a busy day--aching feet, sore back, tired muscles, but a great mattress and a relatively unencumbered conscience. 

And there's the profound moment of mystical awareness as my eyes opened this morning to a new day without earthquakes, able to see, hear, think, know, looking forward to useful employment with people I enjoy.  And then breathing the prayer, ' come soon, Jesus '---because, though I live in comfort for today, there's a ruined planet around me and we need to go Home. 

Currently Reading Three Daughters of Madame Liang (Buck, Pearl S. Oriental Novels of Pearl S. Buck, 4th,) By Pearl S. Buck see related

"This was an opportunity to stop, slow down, take a look around and try to help someone."

Yay for long weekends, yay for A/C that WORKS at home, yay for more time with my kids, yay for family and fun get-togethers with weird menus but still, good conversation... and yay for history: 

And, Here's a historical note:

Do you know what happened this week back in 1850, in California?>
>It became a state.
>The State had no electricity.
>The State had no money.
>Almost everyone spoke Spanish.
>There were gun fights in the streets.
>
>So basically, it was just like California today except the women
>had real boobs and men didn't hold hands...
>
>