Remembering and rambling...

I spent a little time looking over where we were "at" a year ago.  I'm glad that's gone!  Last summer was one of the most painful things we have ever been through.  Jim said it felt like being a captain of a ship and then, out in the middle of the ocean the crew put us in a little boat with no sail or oars, gave us a little bag of rations that would last about one day and left.  Thankfully, God provided and we have more than survived!  I won't say it's been easy, but thanks to God's faithfulness and the generosity of family and friends, here we are! 

I'm still piecing together what we have learned through all this.  We are still healing.  God remains faithful and just.  He is our solid Rock and refuge.  He is our strength when we are weak.  He is good, all the time. 
So, one year ago, we spent a week up in the mountains but it was a stressful and confusing time. 
One year later... we just got back from a week up in the mountains... we haven't laughed that much together in a LONG time, nor just relaxed as much as we did last week. 

We have about 5 more weeks together as a family before school starts up again and Joseph goes off to college in Ohio.  I'm learning (slowly) to enjoy each day and treasure the moments we have together as a family.  Things are really changing!   We hope and pray for another full time ministry as God leads.  I'm not sure I'm ready for it, but Jim's heartbeat is still for pastoring.  I hope and pray God gives him the desire of his heart.  In His wisdom He will do what is best for us.

Be A Thermostat

...not a thermometer.

I don't remember the name of the lady who said this.  It was at a women's retreat in Pennsylvania 9 years ago.  It really struck me, "Be a thermostat and not a thermometer". 
We just had our air conditioner replaced last week (the day of graduation!).  The guy came back today with the new thermostat.  It's an amazing thing.  You set the temperature that you want and the conditions in the room stay constant.  If you want it cooler, set it lower.  If you want it warmer, set it higher.  You can even program it to come on at certain times and certain temperatures. 
Thermometers register what's happening in the conditions around it.  Thermometers go up and down depending on what's happening.  When it's 100+ degrees outside, that's what the thermometer says.  When it's 32 degrees, that's what the thermometer says.  It doesn't effect anything, it just reacts to what's happening around it.
I want to be constant, like a thermostat, no matter what's going on around me.  Maybe, like a thermostat, if I'm constant and not reacting, it will help effect those around me.

Graduation

This years' graduation was memorable for so many reasons.  Our twin sons, Joseph David Newman and Michael James Newman have graduated from Exeter Union High School! 

Among the other memorable things,they join a long list of EUHS alumni from the family:

Frank W. Mixter - first EUHS School Board Secretary - early 1900's
Nobert W. Mixter - EUHS class of 1916
Mabelle G. Sexton Mixter - EUHS class of 1917
Robert W. Mixter - EUHS class of 1940
Grace Mixter Ogas - EUHS class of 1969 (Salutatorian)
Bruce Mixter - EUHS class of 1972 (Valedictorian)
Me - EUHS class of 1975
Neal Mixter - EUHS class of 1977
Bonita Owens Mixter - EUHS class of 1978
Thomas Ogas - EUHS class of 1992
Teresa Ogas EUHS class of 1994

The other events of the evening were  memorable for other reasons... some good and some not so good.
First, after all the controversy over whether or not to allow prayer (even student-led) the decision was made to include a moment of silence in place of prayer.  The senior class (on the whole) seemed okay with this decision.  I wish I could say the same for some members of the community.  After the senior class ASB president spoke for a few minutes about "respect" and announced that we would have a moment of silence immediately some in the crowd began to recite the Lord's Prayer.  Normally I would have joined them (in another context) but this time it upset and angered me!  The seniors deserved an evening to celebrate their accomplishments. It wasn't a time to make any kind of "statement".  The members of the community, although well meaning did more harm than good by disrupting the evening.  Prayer is meant to be heart-to-heart communication with the God of the universe, not a "statement" (political or otherwise).  I was looking forward to the moment of silence in order to PRAY, silently.  Remarkably, the graduating seniors showed far more maturity in this whole thing than many "adults".
In Matthew 6, the passage which contains the "Lord's Prayer" begins like this:


"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. ^2-4"When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'playactors' I call them— treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

Pray with Simplicity

 ⁵"And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?  ⁶"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
 ^7-13"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply."

How ironic.  Making a display of prayer did more harm than good. 

The speeches:
The speeches were given by Rebecca Terhune (Valedictorian) and my son, Joseph (Salutatorian).  The two chose to stand together for each others' speeches to show their mutual support and respect for each other.  Both speeches were great, however, Rebecca's was interrupted by someone shouting in the crowd.  I am amazed at the rudeness and disrespect this person showed her!  Joseph talked about his personal faith in Christ for which we were very proud (and the crowd cheered).  But Joseph didn't want to be the "poster child" for prayer or the Christian faith.  He just wanted to be who he is. 
At the close of the speeches they hugged and "high-fived" each other and sat down.  From what I have heard from a number of people, the displays from the crowd were a big disappointment to the senior class.  How bad for them to have their evening almost ruined.  But - bravo to the senior class....seeing the maturity, grace and respect they showed to each other was a lesson to us all. 

Congratulations Joseph and Michael as well as the rest of the EUHS class of 2010!!

To Pray or not to Pray....

That is the question.
I'm amazed and appalled at the reaction by some people to the recent turn of events that has led to the possible canceling of a prayer led by a local pastor.  What has upset me (and others) is how vicious and cruel some people have been towards the people at the center of this controversy.  "Christian" people are threatening, accusing and vilifying others.  I jokingly said to my husband earlier today when he mentioned he'd heard of a possible "protest" outside the High School... "I hope they remember to wear their "God is love" t-shirts [when they bring their pitch-forks and torches]!  Sure I believe that we should have the freedom to pray, but I also believe that America ceased to be a "Christian Nation" quite some time ago.  I also believe that it is the absolute wrong thing to do to be cruel, to accuse, to threaten, to name call, etc.  This does NOT represent Christianity (well... yeah, unfortunately I guess it does represent modern Christianity to some extent).... at any rate is does NOT represent Christ!  How do you suppose people "on the other side" will ever be drawn to Christ if we treat them like this?  What would Jesus do?  He was hardest on the religious leaders of His day, not on others. 
If you read this blog, I'm asking you to pray for peace, for the love of Christ to reign in this situation. 
Oh, and another thing... this is a High School graduation.  It's supposed to be a celebration of accomplishment for the students and a launching out into the next phase of their lives.  This is their day!  Why ruin it for these students!  Of course, since we are sending them out into the "real" world, I guess this is a taste of what they'll get out there.  Sad.

I am reminded of a mime skit I was involved in several years ago. 
There are several pairs of people - 2 of them arguing over musical styles, 2 of them arguing over modes of baptism, 2 of them arguing over ways of worshiping, 2 more arguing over evangelism and methods...
Finally, "Jesus" comes out and begins to wash the first persons' feet, who in turn washes the next one and on down the line it goes. 
When we stop arguing and begin serving each other the way Jesus taught us, and when we love each other THEN the world will know that we belong to Christ. 
Jesus came to seek, to save, to serve... We need to follow His example and stop the idiotic bickering.

Saturday Fun

This Murder Mystery dinner was for the boys' 18th birthday.  A great time was had by all!  Present at the event was:  W.W. (Wicked Witch), Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Dr. Frankenstein, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Alice (from Wonderland), The Count, Rapunzel, The Mad Hatter, Pirate "John" Silver, Robin Hood and Prince Charming.  We had a blast! 
And earlier that day....    We spent the morning with Maureen taking senior pictures of the boys.  Looking at these pictures I can't believe how they've grown and changed!                                           

Random-ness

The weather is beautiful lately.  I've been enjoying our roses in the front garden.
Four weeks from today my twin sons graduate from high school!
These same twin boys just received honors for being 100% Lifetime CSF members! (California Scholarship Federation)
I had a great conversation with my neighbor last night.  (Who would have thought that the pain we went through last summer would resonate so much with others around us?  I'm thankful for real people who see things clearly.)
I'm missing my parents more than ever today.
I'm learning lessons from the trees planted in our front yard.  (God frequently speaks to me through nature)
We're going to watch "Sherlock Holmes" tonight.
Sunday is Mother's Day.  I told my children that I want them to all get along ALL day.  I also want to sit and watch a mom-type movie on the couch while they bring me tea and goodies.  I plan to take some roses out to the cemetery...