“That’s a terrible book,” I said, and flung it into the middle of the room. “It twisted at the last page and ended terribly. Stories aren’t supposed to do that. There aren’t any good books to read. There aren’t any good blogs either. Ugh. Except…”
“You’re going stir-crazy,” my house-mate said. “I would be too. What can I do to help your boredom?”
I got up and sat in the kitchen while she worked and I could focus on something else. It was 11 days post-op and yesterday was pretty much the worst day.
But it’s true. This week I unsubscribed from a bunch of blogs just because I was sick of reading about Jesus Feminists and waaaaay too much TMI and cheesy “I’m so glad you’re here with me in this space–I like you already!”
Then I slept a long good night and in the morning I felt better and could stand up straight which usually helps one’s outlook considerably. Then I found out that my dad’s mom died during our night, in the evening of her 88th birthday. Going to the funeral isn’t an option, and so the Atlantic feels tons wider right now than it usually does.
This isn’t a Complaining Song. It’s just what happened to me in the last 24 hrs. There’s deep, real peace and joy under all the surface stuff, and that’s a gift. There are friends who call and visit, flickering candles, A Christmas Carol to listen to. And a ticket to Ireland on Thursday!
However, the quest continues for interesting, decent, not-too-deep books and invigorating blogs. Right now the only ones I really enjoy are Journey Mama (who knows the voice of a pepto bismal frog?) and Confessions (who is a friend, and more than a brilliant blogger). Any suggestions for a house-bound girl?
Tis a Gift to Receive 
Anita try feathered photography.com good pictures with a good lesson tho it is secular the photos are unbelievable…. From Uncles Photo…
Ah, thanks! They’re incredible!
Try mine! findmeontheroadlesstraveled.blogspot.com Although you might want to go back in the archives a little; the last two are sort of a man thing.
Thanks for the recommendation!
some favs: http://sheepdogger.blogspot.ca/
or http://sarahthebarge.com/notebook/
and this one: http://www.billycoffey.com/blog/
Thanks! I should have included Sarah in my short list, because I really do like reading her pieces.
Here’s an Advent post for you! http://www.rabbitroom.com/2013/12/advent-in-the-twilight-zone/
Best wishes on fighting the stir-crazies!
Thanks! The link has true, beautiful words.
life in the shoe by Dorcas Smucker… she is the reason I read your blog, you were on her book tour!
You’re right–hers is another one I always read. =)
Anita,
I don’t think I’ve ever responded to your blog posts, but I do enjoy them! 🙂 I’ve also really enjoyed your book, “Life if for Living”- so much that I’ve recommended to many (married and single alike!) and loaned it out to several.
I like you, enjoy reading blogs. The ones I enjoy the most are the ones that really “cut to the core” of serving our risen Saviour and growing to be more like him. I know you said you didn’t want anything to heavy, but I would still recommend this post I just read. It’s about patience. Something I’m challenged with having every day, and would assume you are struggling with now.
Here is the post…. (enjoy!)
Patience Patience…
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done
the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 10:36
The most common question I get from friends and family now that we are done with paperwork is…”How’s the waiting going?” or “How are you doing with patience?” and my answer is “It depends on the day and the perspective I look through.” Some days I am perfectly content just waiting, having the hope of a child and a family somewhere in my future. Other days it can be hard and I wonder when or if it will ever really happen.
I am learning just how truly thankful I am that God gives us one day at a time and doesn’t allow us to see into our future. It has been one year and nine months since we were told we would have to wait until I turned 21, which was nine months away at the time, to even begin the adoption paperwork/process. Today, one year and nine months later, I turn 22 and we have completed paperwork and are simply waiting. If I had known at the time that we would still be waiting and hoping to have a child almost two years later I would have wanted to give up and not even go down this path. But God knew and still knows exactly what we need and what we can handle. It could be another two years until we get chosen and have a baby, but God gives us the hope that it will be sooner and if we hang onto that hope each day, two years will fly right by. (right?) So that is the perspective I use that really helps me. Almost two years have passed that we have been on this journey and looking back those years flew right by. When I think about waiting with that perspective it doesn’t seem to bad and I can just enjoy the little things in life that will be changed once we have a baby. I told one friend I just try not to dwell on it to much because that’s when the impatience comes. Her response was “How can you do that? I would think about it every single day!” and I do! Every single day! But it’s when I start making “plans” that the impatience comes and then I am reminded that my so called “plans” don’t usually happen anyways so I am better off just being content with my life just the way it is and allowing God to make the plans and changes to my future.
The verse above is an encouraging one to me and usually convicting too. Patience doesn’t come easily to me:) But patience has helped me to grow in faith and trust in God and His ultimate plan. Awhile ago I was listening to Focus on the Family and I learned something I had never really thought about before. One of the Fruit of the Spirit is long-suffering and often times we can replace that word or explain it by saying it is having patience. I learned there is a big difference in patience and long-suffering. Patience is waiting for something you expect to happen or change. For example, we need patience as we wait to have a baby some day. We know it will happen some how but we have to wait for it to come to pass. Another example of patience is waiting for Christ to return, as the verse above is talking about. We know He is coming back but we need to be patient as we wait. I would say patience is more comparable to contentment than long-suffering. Long-suffering is dealing with a person/situation that you do not expect will ever change, yet you still endure. We as Christians are constantly tempted and struggling against the devil. He is not going to let up while we have the breath of life. Now if we can endure and overcome and still praise God and serve him through it all with a cheerful attitude, that’s long-suffering. It was so interesting to me because I had never really thought about the difference in those two words that we use almost interchangeably. It is encouraging to know that for our situation in life right now we are in need of patience, not long-suffering. We have the hope and expectation that someday, in God’s timing, we will have a little baby to hold in our arms and call our own.
So to answer the question of patience, I have my up days and I have my down days but overall I am thankful that I am only in need of patience and I can use this time to learn how to depend more fully on God and to hold onto hope for all He has planned for our future.
Thanks for your kind words about my book, and for sharing these words about patience!
Wait. How can you like my blog when I’m not blogging? Ohhh. You like my blog because I’m not blogging?! You turkey you!
Your snorting comments above reflect how I always feel about blogs. But you, my story-loving blog-loving friend–you’ll soon be back to normal. I know there’s more than two of them out there.
So sorry about your grandma!
How glad I am that things won’t always be this way. And you’re right–there are more than 2 out there, but not many!
I have no idea what you consider invigorating, but here is a blog that helps me keep faith in humanity: http://www.theimaginativeconservative.org/
And for smashing good discussions on all things literary, check out this podcast hosted by three English professors (that is, if you do podcasts): http://www.christianhumanist.org/
ok, thanks–I’ll give them a try!