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MamaMast
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Name: Shirley
State: Pennsylvania
Metro: Lancaster
Gender: Female
Interests: My wonderful Jesus, my sweet honey, my precious kids, my scrapbooks, and my cat! Also fond of powernaps in the middle of the afternoon, really good chocolate, music to soothe the soul, West Wing, and laughter with friends.
Expertise: Domestic engineering with specialties in education, music, medicine, computer science and more. Specializing in psychology too... I need it in my line of work, believe me!
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
12/28/2004
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| I'm finally recovering from asthma/bronchitis and am so grateful to be feeling better that I'm reluctant to go to bed! Of course, when you consider that I haven't had more than 2.5 hours of consecutive sleep since Sunday night, being awake at 3:54 in the morning is just craziness. (Sure, you try to explain that to the prednisone that's keeping me awake.) Ah well, I'm happy, so it's good.
There were two nights this week when I seriously considered calling an ambulance. With that memory fresh in my mind, I'm particularly thankful for my returning health, the ability to think clearly again, and the fact that I'll be able to enjoy Christmas fun with my family. I'm thanking God for His mercy to me, for a wonderful nurse-practioner, and a cheap but oh-so-effective antibiotic.
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| This has always been one of my least favorite Christmas songs, until now...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8&feature=related
Ok, so maybe I'm starting to feel festive after all. 
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| Inquiring minds want to know: is this a good album? Well, I think it's safe to say that the truth in the songs on this album are what kept me breathing two weeks ago. The battle was raging. This soldier was more battle-weary than she'd ever been when a dear friend recommended this album. She knew I was a Mandisa fan. More importantly, she knows from experience how hard life can be, even when you're being faithful and obedient. She knew I needed encouragement and Truth.
This song, in particular, was the lifeline for me. I'd keep repeating the words, refocusing on the goal. You see, when the battle is at its worst, soldiers have to keep the goal in front of them, all the time. This song did it for me. Too bad you can't hear it -- it's even better with the music.
Only The World
From the album – True Beauty
Been a hard one
Been a bad one
Been a tough one
Been a sad one
It's been just one of those days
That keeps chipping away at my heart
Nothin' new here
It's what I do here
It's a stereotypical day in the life
I'm surrounded by all of the pain and the strife
But I know it's alright
Chorus:
'Cause it's only the world I'm living in
It's only today I've been given
There ain't no way I'm giving in
'Cause it's only the world
I know the best is still yet to come
'Cause even when my days in the world are done
There's gonna be so much more than only the world for me
Anybody, do you hear me?
Do you feel me?
I mean do you feel me?
I know I'm not the only one wearing the weight of this world
We got problems, said it's alright
Just remember, yeah it's alright
Take a good look around
We're just stuck on the ground for a little while
Don't it make you smile
[Chorus]
Heaven is a place
Where the tears on every face will be wiped away
Oh and I can't wait to go
But for now, it's enough to know
This is only temporary
[Chorus]
Even after I had to return the CD, my kids would still hear me muttering under my breath at odd times: "it's only the world." If the USPS doesn't fail me, my own copy will arrive in a few days. I think I can make it until then.
Don't get me wrong -- I also sing along with Louie Armstrong's "What a Beautiful World." It's a favorite of mine. There is so much in this life that I love. Still, there's nothing like a huge spiritual battle to smack reality into the brain. The "beautiful world" isn't the one we see here. I need to remember that I'll get my first glimpse of it on the day when I see Jesus, face to face. That goal makes the current pain and sacrifice worthwhile -- all of it. Yup, this is "only the world." It's temporary. Right about now, I'm pretty thankful for that.
Yes, you really should go buy the CD. Good stuff.
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| Seems that my last entry (Nov 22) never made it onto the emailed subscriptions, or so I've heard. It's been so long since I posted, maybe xanga has given up on me?
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| Might not be long or deep, but it shall be a post. Hope someone is happy now!  I'll even throw in my cute little paisley turkey that I made with one of the latest Creative Memories "toys."
'Twas a pleasant enough Thanksgiving Day. Since the big extended family shindig isn't until Saturday, today was a quiet one. Saturday will be noisy, but rather fun, with eighteen dear ones munching on my honey's turkey and stuffing and my niece's homemade pies.
This morning began with scrambled eggs and such, plus coffee with gingerbread CoffeeMate. (Yep, it's mighty good.) Macy's parade was next, for all four of us plus two bunnies. I sipped more coffee; the latter two munched radish tops. (The cat, deciding to not even tempt himself with thoughts of fresh rabbit, took a nap on our bed.) All seemed quite content.
By noon, my mom had arrived. Since the day was unseasonably warm, and we were unusually lazy, it seemed appropriate that we get off our butts for awhile, before stuffing ourselves at lunch. Some cleaned up the dishes, and the rest trimmed back the rose bushes for winter. Gusty winds were forecast for later in the day, and the bushes were lanky from neglect, so it was time to clean them up a bit or risk having the canes broken off. I trimmed off two fragrant pink roses on Thanksgiving Day. Can you believe it?
While we finished, Honey trotted himself off to Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving takeout. It's the best: home cooking with no fuss, no dishes, and enough for leftovers.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to have the oldest one away from the table. (Saturday will be harder. Still wish he would have told the extended family that he wouldn't be here, rather than saving that for me to do.  )
Mom was working in the afternoon, and could only stay for a few hours. Just as well. We're far from festive these days, even though we were having a pleasant enough time. Played a few rounds of Phase 10 before Mom went on her way and Honey collapsed into a coma.
This evening, we munched leftovers and watched old Cosby shows. It was good to laugh with my kids and remember that we're not the only ones with dearly-loved teenagers who drive us crazy.
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These past weeks, I've had to choose thanksgiving. It hasn't always been easy. Many times it was solely an act of the will. I've had the opportunity to be grateful for the things that matter more than most of what is typically cited around the Thanksgiving table. I've thanked my Father for His strength when I had none. I've thanked Him for laughter, even in the midst of many days of tears. I've thanked Him for the men of integrity who have a godly influence on our sons, thanking Him more fervently than usual that one of them is my husband. On days when I had no words to be able to form a prayer, I could still thank Him for friends who brought me before the Throne of Grace. And on days when I thought I just couldn't breathe anymore, I thanked Him that He is sovereign and He is good.
Being thankful when the bank account is stable, friends are many, and the pathway is smooth -- that's easy. Quite frankly, it carries with it the risk of being a shallow exercise, designed to make us feel even better about ourselves. Being thankful when finances are uncertain, when you don't know who your friends are, and when life stinks -- that's not as hard as one might expect, when the God we serve is so faithful and merciful. Recognizing my wretched condition and how much life stinks has led me to an even greater awareness of who He is, and how thankful I am to be under His loving sovereignty.
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