Susie's Steps

Today is my oldest baby's birthday. I can't believe he's 12! Like many parents, we have pet names for each of our children. We have a Punikin, a Poppet, and a Peanut. Daniel has always been our little Punikin! Full and overflowing with energy (but seems unable to pass any on to his momma!), boisterous and full of fun. He has a laugh that comes from deep down and bubbles forth and contagiously affects us all. He loves jokes and comics and is only too willing to share all of them that he comes across. Like his momma, he loves to escape to the wonderful world of books where magic abounds and happy endings are aplenty. Even bouncing off walls and ceilings, he's never too busy or embarrassed to give out hugs and kisses. Tender-hearted and loyal to a fault. I can still remember with pride the tears Daniel shed over a friend from India who didn't know God. My son, who has such a strong sense of right and wrong and wants justice for all-- looks forward to being a law enforcement officer. We tease him often that he is not a policeman yet as he attempts to correct his little sister. Like many boys, he teases his little sister unmercifully, but just let anyone mistreat her, and there would be no doubt whom her fiercest protector is. And you've never seen sillier faces than the ones that boy makes at his baby brother just to see Malachi smile. My Daniel has a God-given gift for public speaking. I don't mean to brag, because I had nothing to do with this gift--it's all God. He can get up in front of any given multitude with absolutely no fear and speak from his heart.
Wishing you the best birthday ever, my bright and beautiful blond headed, blue eyed boy!

: ) Daniel doesn't know it yet, but we saved all our pennies and we're fixing to go check Daniel out of school a little early and take him to go see the new Star Wars movie! He's going to be so excited!

Most of this is inspired by Donna's post yesterday. Here are a few of my thoughts and opinions. They and about $4 . . . well, I'll just meet you at Books-A-Million for that cappuccino. ; )

I'm kind of torn on the "Why do we pay preachers" issue. I've tossed it over in my head for years. On one hand, I really do feel that some preachers (not all) are vastly overpaid. But on the other hand, I really do think that it is helpful to have preachers that have a family of their own--with children. I have a real problem with people who tell us how to raise Christian children when they have had none of their own and truly have no idea what they're speaking of, y'know? So, I think it is a good thing. but preachers with families need money to support those families. So, we pay them.

"Why do we spend so much money on facilities for the church to meet in?" With that, we have to reach people where they're at. We have to show them love before they will want to be one of Jesus' followers. There's a church in our community that is growing by leaps and bounds. Why? Because they are meeting needs. They have a ministry for every possible age. And it's helpful to have facilities to accomodate this. I mean honestly, if you hadn't been raised in the church (as I was), and really had no church background, would you choose a church who met in a home when first contemplating Christianity? In this day and age? I don't know that I would. I would be much more attracted by the people who were having fun--then I would listen to the devotional and be a little more open to it. I can still hear my grandmother scornfully telling me, "Well, it's not a Country Club!" No, I agree it is not. But all the same, I think it is very important for us as Christians to have Christian friends and a Christian support system. Who else is going to understand when you're struggling with Christian or church issues? Certainly not unbelievers. We need those Christian friends to boost us onward when we falter--and encourage us. I was talking to a man whose wife attends a church where they only see their church family in church services--no contact away from church. And I think that as a society we seem to be growing towards that. We know lots of people superficially ("Hello, how are you?"), but don't really know them . Hence then need for church outreach and fellowship.

These are my scattered thoughts anyway. ; )

Well, I know you've read all these before, but I guess I need to focus on the positive today . . .

I'm thankful for--
1. My salvation
2. that God listens to me
3. My family
4. My job
5. My home.
6. My air-conditioning
7. My car
8. Gas to cook my food
9. Gas to heat my water
10. Clothes to wear
11. Food to eat
12. My health
13. that my family loves me
14. that I'm free to worship God
15. books to read
16. My comfortable bed!
17. My comfortable pillow!
18. My comfortable covers! (Can you tell, I love to sleep? LOL)

I guess that's all I have for now. I feel a bit more cheerful. ; )

I'm reminding myself. ; )
It has been a week! We still only have 4 of us running a 24/7 operation, and one has been calling in sick since Wednesday, I think. So, for now, there are 3 of us covering a 24/7 operation. The other two girls want to work 8 hour shifts, 7 days a week. Well, that's okay I guess for them--one of them works 6-2 and the other works 2-10. The idea of working 10pm-6am 7 days a week with no day off is rather daunting to me. I'd rather work 12 hour shifts and get a day off now and again to catch up on things at home. Sigh. But I guess I'm outnumbered. I know, I know. I just need to trust the heart of God when I can't see the hand of God (I can hear my Momma telling me). God is always faithful, and His timing is always perfect (I remind myself). Even when He waits until I'm at the end of my rope--He never lets me fall off without having a net appear from somewhere. I can see this intellectually in my past. But like the children of Israel, I conveniently forget that in the face of my challenges. And I'm feeling a little challenged. I've been up since 3am and worked from 4:30am to 6pm, and my thought processes are a little skewed. ; ) So, forgive me for whining--I'm mostly just tired and trying to talk my thought processes into working. I really ought to go to bed, but I hadn't written in so long, and I needed to remind myself of a few truths before I attempted to go to sleep. ; )

Please keep John in your prayers as he still has no job--and God is already working miracles stretching my check as far as it goes. But I know God has something in mind for John. I'm just impatient, I guess.

Thank You, God, for the edit buttons . . .
: )

LOL--but of course I'm not halfway anywhere. We've got another dispatcher quitting, so there will be 3 of us covering a 24/7 operation. ACK! Well, I was praying about finances. Maybe God's answer is overtime. LOL. At least I'm not afraid of work. But our minister is leaving soon, and we're having his wife's going away party tonight. I'm so disappointed that I don't get to go. But what do you do? At least I got half a day off today. : P I got to sleep in until 6:30am, and that felt pretty good compared with 4:30am that I usually do.

I'm trying desperately to stay positive, and for the most part, I succeed, but this can be so frustrating. John is still without a job. He will go in and have an absolutely WONDERFUL interview. He comes home so positive, and a few days later they blow him off. As much as I don't want to contemplate it, I'm beginning to think somebody at his other job is badmouthing him to potential employers. John is good at what he does, and people generally like him. It just doesn't make sense for him to have all these good interviews and not one of them gets him a job. I just keep telling myself that God has a good job waiting for John, and we just haven't stumbled across it yet. But wow. It can be kind of scary to be waiting on the Lord sometimes.

Well! I'm thankful for my job today! : )

I've tried to write down when one of my kids makes a funny. This one happened this morning, and I recorded it in my "Maddie Tales" file. It's also on a disc.

Saturday, May 7th, 2005
5 years old

Mother’s Day is tomorrow. Madeline had a dollar from the tooth fairy. John had suggested that she buy me a Mother’s Day card with it.

She was telling me that we were going to go to Walmart where she could spend her dollar. She went on to say that she was going to use the dollar to buy me a Mother’s Day card. Then, you could see the light bulb come on.

“Here. Here’s you a dollar, and you can buy yourself a Mother’s Day card!”

I laughed and laughed and laughed. To her, this was a GREAT opportunity she was bestowing on me. She likes nothing better than to have a dollar to spend on something that she picks out. But it was SOOOOO funny! Read {Here! Here’s a dollar. Buy yourself a card or somethin’}

God knew that I had a bit of a rocky start to my day. So he sent me this laugh!
Enjoy! : )

REVELATION 3:20
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a card and wrote:
"Revelation 3:20"
on the back of it and stuck it in the door.
When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message:
"Genesis 3:10."
Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.
Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."

Remember when the funniest jokes were the clean ones? They still are! "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Prov. 17:22) Now, pass it on!!

I'm sorry I haven't posted much. As much as I love my job, it can be really tough sometimes. And although the "shock factor" is fading some, the "sad factor" is still there.

I also have a special request. Please pray for the Sorrell family. One of my officers' father was shot and died today in Birmingham. So sad.

God is still in charge . . .