Sabbath, for me

I've been thinking lately about the idea of the Sabbath. I heard a teaching on the radio about it, and I have always kind of wondered about how it is to fit into my life. I can't stand the idea of the traditional Jewish / fundamental Christian Sabbath day where you have to sit and do nothing fun, no cooking, a legalistic bummer. However, the Word is pretty clear, the Sabbath is for real, and it's FOR US from the Lord. Anyway, I am still studying, and asking the Lord to show me what that means. I am a busy mom, and I don't like legalism. Today I declared that I was having a "Sabbath day", and I turned down a lunch invitation, and told my kids "no" for a birthday party scheduled for 3:00 today (amidst protests... it was a pool party). I did take them to the park for an hour and a half of playing, and I did do a couple of loads of laundry (MY BEDDING... love clean sheets). I think that we are so busy that having a down day is a must. I know I need to keep the Lord in the middle of the day (tempting to make it a selfish day), and I don't want to say, "I can't do this, and I can't do that," but I want to give the Lord room to work, room for me to recharge. Today was a good start.

BTW, I got to do a little picture taking today at the park, had a good time. A couple pix are on my flickr site.

:) Kim

the wheels of justice....

The outcome of the jury decision that I was in the running to be on..... (from the Sarasota Herald Tribune)....

June 26. 2007 4:56PM
Man gets life in prison for sexual battery of boy
STAFF REPORT
SARASOTA -- Joseph Degregorio was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday after a jury found him guilty of sexual battery against a boy.

The verdict came after a seven-day trial that included testimony from the victim, now 16, and three other men who said Degregorio abused them.

Degregorio, 50, made a fortune running 16 medical laboratories before they were shut down amid a fraud probe.



I can't say that I'm sad about that! Nice to see the wheels of justice spinning in the right direction sometimes....

:) Kim

Jury duty.....

I got my very first jury summons for today. It came right in the middle of my LIFE... in the midst of 2 nights of work, vet appointments, kid activities, etc etc. I was actually pretty excited until I actually figured out how difficult it was going to be to squeeze this into my life, especially work (feeling guilty because we are running so short staffed right now, knowing I can't work nights and be at the courthouse all day). Anyway, when I got called to the specific courtroom it turns out that it's a week and a half trial, and the witness list that they read sounded like some kind of mob roster. Then I find out the charges are for sexual molestation of a boy. YUCK! I actually was torn between really wanting to serve on this jury (to "help" firsthand see that justice is done, whatever that may be), and wanting to go HOME! I did let them know about the work situation, and then I spent the rest of the day with the other prospective jurors being instructed and questioned. I did (thankfully) get excused!!! The nosy part of me wanted to stay, but the practical part of me wanted to leave. In the end it wasn't my decision anyway.
When I got home, I (of course) looked up the dude in our local paper (online) to find out what the stories were in the paper about him. Turns out he has federal charges against him for defrauding Medicare, had lots of guns, and I even found an arrest record for more sexual charges from this year. It's very interesting to me knowing this in light of how the questioning went throughout the day. Wow. I am even more glad to have been excused, I will be praying that the truth will be known!

A different kind of blog

I have really been enjoying a free website called fitday.com. It allows you to record all your foods (showing how BAD all my diet was at first) that you eat each day. It will calculate the calories, percentages of fat/ carb/ proteins, and vitamin contents. You can put in weight goals (and weigh in too) and keep track of how much exercise you do from day to day. I have used it for about 3 weeks now, with the exception of when I went to the homeschool convention and gave myself a couple of days off the "eating plan" (ie diet). I have actually seen some slow weight loss without feeling too deprived, and it has definitely been an eye opener for me as far as making some good changes. I realize that I like NUMBERS (geeky math person) and pie charts and bar graphs..... It's been good for me.

:) Kim

The Real stuff

I am reminded that I indeed do have a blog, and that I do not indeed write in it. Well, I'm not going to close it down (of course I don't know how), but I have to admit that I will probably not use it much. I enjoy reading Rodney's blog, and some other people's occasionally (thanks so much). I'm reading a book called Lies Homeschool Moms Believe by Todd Wilson. It's very interesting to me, and I'm enjoying it very much. One of the lies/ truths that speaks to me is that I CAN'T DO IT ALL! I can't cook gourmet meals (ha ha ha), participate at church, work part time at the hospital, homeschool my kids, wash clothes, maintain friendships, remember to floss my teeth every night, and come up with something coherent to write here. The thought fills me with dread, which I get the impression blogs are not supposed to do. So I'm using this entry to officially announce that I am not a dedicated blogger, probably won't be for quite some time. I am so glad to have friends that do, and I know Rodney is enjoying all the contacts very very much. Whew, that's a load off my mind.
Much love to all that read......
:) Kim

heart and actions

I've been thinking about the intentions of the heart vs. the actions that I do. It comes to my mind with my kids frequently... I want them to obey me when I ask them to do something, but I want them to do it with a good attitude. Much easier to see with them than it is to peer into my own life. I go to church, school my kids, and interact with people but sometimes my heart just isn't in it. For me, there's a constant struggle between being transparent, honest, sincere, and putting aside my feelings to do what I know to be right. I know I can't rely on my feelings to guide me, I have to rely on the Word and the Spirit. But I don't want to be just doing, doing, doing with no feeling behind it though. I think when I get caught up in the do, do, do stuff I get to be a very dull and boring person... no fun. The joy goes out, and I know that the joy is to be part of what God gives out to His kids. Here I am, asking Him for some more joy. Working out my salvation........... :)

Start 'er up

After truly enjoying reading my old college friends' blogs, and Rodney bugging me more than once to have my own, I will begin. I will have no expectations of myself in this, though. My mind is often full, my schedule even fuller (there's one for my old college buddies, hee hee), and I am trying to remember to leave margin for myself. Rodney is much more the funny one, I have already talked so many words teaching kids today that I have few to no funny ones left. So let me just say.....
hello.
:)