Dreaming while I can't sleep

Life seems like an odd dream lately. Not bad, not good, just very strange and interesting. Could be bad. Maybe even scary. Or, maybe it will turn good. Perhaps GLORIOUS even....! Might I wake up now and have everything back the way I remember?  Shall I cover my head and snooze a little longer to watch what happens next? Is this really a dream?? Or not?

Where would you go if you could choose whatever you wanted to?

I'm not sure I could say right now. My role as a homebody troll is quite advanced since work came home and moved into the little corner room upstairs. I like my "girl cave", too bad it's for WORK, though and not writing! 

Now that I think about it... Somewhere green would be nice. Sunny. Shady. Secluded. Perfectly temperate, but with the whisper of a breeze. NOT tropical, OR humid... Water somewhere nearby. A stream! Sauntering meadows. Trees dappling light where I sprawl.

I wonder what we'll dream of in heaven, when there's already so much to stoke our imaginations here on earth? Will we dream there? Does God? Didn't He dream buttercups up just for us? After all, He sprinkled fields of stars out, knowing we'd need reassurance while drifting off to sleep.

     

All that just for us... 

                  Look up. 

There they are. 

                            'Night

Once upon a time...

I'm on a mission this weekend to reconnect with my long neglected internet "friends" and a few writing projects. 

WRITING? what's writing??? 

Yes it has seemed like a distant memory or foggy dream, lately. Did I really used to write, or did I just "dream" about writing and it seemed like I did? Well, you can't imagine how thankful I am to have a small token of proof lying here in cyberspace to remind me that I haven't lost my mind (yet). That once upon a time... in a land far away... writing really WAS the order of the day! Ok, well that's corny, but hey, I'm a little rusty and drifting here. 

Oh, and then there was reading, that always fought in line. 

READING? what's reading??? I've been dawdling through the stack on my bedside table, for some time now, no matter how loud they seem to call. 

In fact, the only call I've been able to answer lately might be termed the CALL of the WILD. The WILDERNESS that is. OK, so I'm sounding sappy again, but you know those places in life that take you far away from everything you recognize as familiar? Well, that's where I've been. It's isolated and lonely, beautiful, serene, rugged, exhausting, ruthless, and constantly lashing at my innermost core. 

I live in the country, near the edge of "wild" areas of land. They're wonderful to admire from a civilized distance. Yet tucked safe inside my warm and cozy, every-amenity home, I've learned plenty about life in the wilderness. It can burst right in at times and simply carry you away... the loss of a job, a suffering child, volatile relationships, death, irrevocable change, illness, fear, frailty, fatigue, disappointment, mere oversight, or natural disaster. 

Though I'm currently living in the "outback" of prolonged circumstances that still threaten the destruction of a beloved way of life, others I hold dear are suffering much worse conditions. And yet they inspire me. They breathe gently on the embers that glow and keep me warm. Shaken out of a stupor, I kneel to do the same. Chill gone, I venture into the night and replenish the store of kindling. The fire grows. The wilderness shrinks. Flames crackle and dance, reaching up toward the stars. Familiarity surrounds me in the dark, and a new and crazy way of life becomes yet another adventure. 

Enough pent up symbolism? Alright, well you get the idea of where I've been lately...little reading... less writing... fairly active imagination... challenging, yet enriching time in life.

Anyhow, here I am. Just warming up the keyboard. Happy to put a few words on the screen. Beginning, again...

BOOK REVIEW: “Generation NeXt Marriage”

By Tricia Goyer

I was thrilled when I heard the guidelines for this Blog Tour from Trish.
“…we’d like you to take one chapter of the book and share how that chapter, or the principles in the chapter, have helped you in your marriage.”

Cool, I thought. T and I have been studying some new parenting books lately, but it’s been awhile since we’ve looked at one on marriage. I’m a definite Gen X-er, and he is on the cusp, so it should relate to us. What a great way for us to draw closer while I prepare for the blog!

RIGHT…
...Well, since that original thought: I began a new full-time job, one of our older daughters moved home, T took over my gourmet cooking class this semester, we're homeschooling both twins, and he's trying to get a new business started!

At a time when we probably need it the most, there just hasn’t been time in our schedule for basic communication let alone something that will draw us “closer” as a couple. The more I thought about it and poured through Trish’s book, I laughed and thought YEAH, well that’s what she’s talking about here isn’t it?!!

SO which chapter really hit home for me???

Chapter 8: “Sweet Child o’ Mine

Why? Because if there’s one thing my husband and I ALWAYS agree on it’s loving, nurturing and raising our kids to be healthy, happy, productive, faith-filled young people.

Well then why aren’t you blogging on “Generation Next Parenting” instead you say? It’s simple. Marriage and Parenting aren’t separate issues as our friend Tricia points out here!

“Children Redefine ‘Marriage Partnership’” she opens the chapter with. In discussing marriage as a purposeful relationship, she quotes Gary Chapman in the Four Seasons of Marriage “All research indicates that an intimate marriage provides the safest and most productive climate for raising children.”

Though I DO see our parenting partnership lately as one of the biggest strengths in our marriage, one of the closing points Trish makes went to my core.

“Additionally the way John and I interact serves as our children’s model for marriage. In fact, the type of marriage I have with John is most likely the kind my kids will have too. That’s huge.”

UM yeaah, that’s HUGE!

It reminded me once more that even in the midst of understandable hard times; when it’s difficult to find the time and way to connect, our marriage STILL has to take precedence. During these times, we are modeling for our kids how to handle their own future marriages under similar circumstances.

As a parent it’s pretty easy to analyze and even critique our own children’s behavior, after all that’s part of our job! Well picturing my child as a future marriage partner, handling particular situations the way we typically do, was inspiration. Not only to try to do better, but my need to aim daily for the BEST relationship possible, no matter what the situation may be.

Now this doesn’t mean we’ll ever become the “perfect” husband/wife, during our lifetime. Rather that in each and EVERY season, we must dedicate precious time and energy toward a future of continuous improvement.

One of my favorite things in this chapter is that Trish shares her TOP 12 list of the best things a married couple can do together for their kids.
I focused in on just a few to share:

“5. Have daily ‘couch time’ where your kids see the two of you talking about your day. It will give them security to see their parents communicate. They will know all is well in their world.

7. Be loyal to one another and stand by each other, even when you don’t think the other person has handled the situation correctly. It’s better to work it out afterward, in private.

8. Let loose once in awhile. Life doesn’t always have to be serious.

9. Pray together as a family. AND...

11. Let the kids see you handle disagreements and resolutions respectfully."

To learn more about other bloggers’ favorite chapters in this book follow the tour here!

Trish Goyer is the award winning author of nine books, has written more than 250 published articles, and is a sought after speaker and presenter for women’s groups. She makes her home in northwest Montana with her husband and three children.

Click here for an opportunity to win a “dinner for 2” courtesy of Trish herself!

BEFORE AMERICAN IDOL...

there was "Clumsy" Jason Castro, singing from the heart, at church.



Well, the news is all good so far!!

Jason's made it to the top 10, securing a position on the AI performance tour this year. Simon Cowell was quoted on Oprah this week as saying he expects him to be in the "top 4". Leonard Cohen has "Dreads" to thank for a revitalized career, Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" hit #1 on Itunes in memorium, and J's 1.5 minute version was the first AI contestant download to break the top 100...

I love this video though, because it's at the core of the "real" Jason. Behind all of the Hollywood glamour, the fan threads, the magazine articles and Ford commercials is a cool, humble, easy-going, goofy, God-honoring young man.

If you're so inclined, please keep up the prayers as he travels this wild pop-culture journey. Check out a new blog dedicated just to that, it's called: 

prayforjasoncastro.blogspot.com

Tune in Tuesday nights on FOX (at 8/7c), to enjoy his next performance (award winning smile included)...then VOTE him back again!!!