Eggplant Results

Well, that lady's eggplant must have been squashed! The digital imaging may be better for giving a more accurate picture, but it is no more comfortable. However, my hat is off to the folks at our hospital's mammography center. They were polite, gentle, and fast. I was in and out before I was even supposed to be in! And I left with deodorant on because they had little complimentary deodorant wipes to use after you had your test. Thank you. That may be about the worst thing about eggplant day, not wearing deodorant or perfume or lotion prior to the screening.

By the way, my screening was perfectly normal and I am celebrating good health today!

It's Eggplant Day

Several weeks ago, as I was standing in line at the grocery store check out counter, I encountered a lady who was buying an eggplant and a few other items. I don't really know why, but I asked her what she was going to do with the eggplant. I explained that I had never bought an eggplant and was curious to know how she prepared it. Turns out she wasn't planning on preparing it at all. She was a mammographer and was going to use the eggplant to practice using the new digital imaging machine that the hospital had just gotten for taking mammograms! I really didn't know if that should comfort me or worry me, but I figured if a vegetable could withstand the pressure exerted from this machine I could too.

Well today I am going to find out! It's mammogram day for me. This is not a day I look forward to, but my hope is that with the newer, gentler digital machine I will have less to fear. Of course, it's not just the pain of the squashing most of us fear about mammograms. Perhaps like me you worry about the unknown, the possibility of finding out some bad news. About 9 years ago when I had my first mammogram my doctor called me with unsettling news. I ended up having to have a sonogram and a biopsy. Nothing was wrong after all, but it wasn't a fun ride!

I say all this to say, "Get your mammogram!" No, it's not a pleasant experience and you may even get some unpleasant news, but it allows you to walk in the light instead of the dark. It gives you the info you need to take care of yourself and live. And if an eggplant can take it, so can you!

She's Going to High School

Well, it's official. My baby will be going to high school in August. She graduated from the eighth grade of our Christian Academy last Tuesday and she even looked like a high schooler that night. I am very proud of my little girl. She is growing into quite the young lady. Not only is she beautiful, but she is compassionate, tender-hearted, self-motivated, bright, and lovely to be with.

I accidentally mentioned school to her last Wednesday (the day after graduation) and she immediately reprimanded me. Abby doesn't like to talk about school at all between the last day of one year and the first day of the next term. She wants a complete sabbatical. But I warned her that this summer would not quite be that way. "Look," I said. "You're starting high school this fall at a very large public school. You better believe we are going to have a few discussions between now and then! We won't start today or even tomorrow, but we are going to talk about high school before August 5th!" (That's when she starts - August 5th - can you believe how early school starts these days!)

Daniel has navigated high school so well. I just want Abby to play it as smart. Make good, solid friends, keep her grades up, stay active and motivated, participate in activities, and stay true to herself! If you know Abby, or even if you don't but you have a little empathy for me, would you please pray for her occasionally this summer. Pray that she will choose friends wisely, that she'll get off to a good start academically, and that God will protect her from those who might hurt her in any way. Thanks so much!

Abby and me celebrating her completion of the 8th grade. Always the drama queen!

Time for Summer Reading

Well it's officially summer at my house. The temperature has soared to the 90s this week (don't worry, we're supposed to be back in the 70s by the weekend!), the kids are getting out of school, and I'm in the mood for lots of fresh veggies and fruits. Summer also means reading for me. The only two times during the year that I do a lot of reading is summer and Christmas vacation.

This summer our women's ministry is trying a sort of book club. We're offering three different books for women to read at their own pace. They can order and read one book, two, or all three. Then on July 26th we're having a breakfast for all the readers, and afterwards each woman can attend one of the three discussion groups for the book of her choice. We're calling it Breakfast & Books. I got the idea from womensministry.net

The three books we've selected for the WOW Breakfast & Books club are Max Lucado's It's Not About Me, Philip Yancy's What's So Amazing About Grace?, and Lynn Austin's Hidden Places.
I've read the Lucado and Austin books and I can recommend them highly. I'm reading Yancy's book for the first time this summer and I'll also be leading the discussion group for that book. If you'd like to join me and the ladies of my church in reading these books, I've got them on a bookshelf in the right hand margin of this blog page. Just click on the book(s) of your choice and you will be directed to a link where you can read comments and purchase the book. Hope you'll read along with us and let me know what you think. In fact, I'll take all the comments I receive on any of these three books, put them in a hat for a drawing and I'll send another favorite book to the lucky winner: Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild. I'll award the prize on July 27th, the day after our breakfast!

Happy reading!

PS - let me know what you're reading this summer. I'm always on the hunt for a few good books.

Where I'd Rather Be

Today I'm working hard at the computer all day. I got behind on my devos last week because I was ill for two days, went out of town for a day with my family and then had to devote a lot of time to the women's event on Saturday. So I'm probably going to miss my deadline, which is today. But I'm trying to at least get everything done by tomorrow because my parents are coming for a visit then! At any rate, I thought I'd post a picture of where I'd rather be today-on the Appalachian Trail! I hiked a portion of it just about this time last year with my best friend, Kim, and my favorite aunt, Ida. We had a blast and can't wait to do it again next year!

My Aunt Ida, myself, and Kim right before we put our packs on our back and hit the trail. Notice our hair still looks really good. It started to rain just minutes later and our hair never looked good again - for four days!

Me and Kim toward the end of the backpacking trip. I know this because Kim has on her knee brace that a kind hiker had given her on the last night. She pulled something in her knee that made the last two days of hiking very difficult for her.

Me and Aunt Ida on an ascent or descent, can't really tell. After all, it was one ascent and descent after another! Just beautiful too! We could see forever!

Quote Worthy

Hey, it turns out I've been quoted in an article on the web - the first time ever, I do believe! Granted, I think they took what I said a little out of context and used it a little unfairly, but whatever. If you're interested to see it, check it out here. What a hoot! You might want to check out my article from which they quoted me for yourself. It's right here.

Bound to be a Blessing

Another fun fellowship with the women of my church! This one was not only fun, but quite meaningful. We were kicking off a year of concentrating on ministry opportunities. I talked with the ladies about not only giving big, but giving small. Here's the basic outline:

1. The biggest gifts are often wrapped in small packages - Matthew 25:31-40- parable of the sheep and goats (teaches me I need to be on the lookout for little ways I can serve, lend a hand, or give. It may be a little thing to me, but it may mean a lot to the one I'm helping.)
2. A small gift sometimes costs a whole lot more than a big gift - Luke 21:1-4 - the widow's gift of two tiny coins (I need to be prepared to sacrifice when I give. It may be a little thing, but it may cost me a lot.)
3. Small gifts often open big doors - James 2:14-18 - (I need to be sensitive to people's most pressing needs. They may be big obstacles on the path to their salvation. Meeting those basic needs may open the door to sharing the gospel.)

Well, that's a very sketchy outline, but I think we were all motivated to give small! After all, as we discovered, giving small can be a really big thing.

At any rate, here are the pictures of our event. Fun and beautiful! Kudos to our women's ministry team and all their hard work!

Each place setting included one of these lovely flower-cookies created by Rosita.

Decorations: Yellow, orange & green pompoms hung from the ceiling. Freshly potted flowers served as centerpieces and doorprizes.

Check out the slide show to the right for more photos!