and dear brethren make my life better by helping my attitude!

I love the Pollyanna attitudes expressed by others - especially some right now. And so often saints who have trials that are far greater than mine or yours express such encouraging joy. I love the encouragement I get when I'm down by dear pleo friends - from posts and comments. I love the hugs given when I'm sharing joy or sharing a sorrow.

Truly, the love of Christ expressed by His body blesses my life.

Thank you all.

This week has had some sorrows - two deaths, one of a friend with whom I'd lost regular contact several years ago - deep pain there for a young family. And another of a man I've never met, but who blessed my family's life by raising wonderful Godly children who have, in turn, raised their own wonderful families in Godly homes who have blessed my children.

And underlying the sorrow of the week is the constant joy as we look forward with great anticipation of Meghan's & Brian's wedding and Laura's & Nathan's wedding.

May you all have blessed days full of good moments this week as your journey of growth in the knowledge of the grace of our Lord continues.

How neat is it that way back - I mean wwwaaaaaayyyyyyy back - in our Christian walk we were graciously hosted by a lovely lady and her family (Libby and Jeff, Amy, Nathan, Holly, and Amanda as we (me, Meghan, Laura, and Catherine) visited the Providence RI area to see what the church was like up there before Craig considered a job change. We were very encouraged, edified, and much tempted to make the move because of the wonderful group that meets there. But the job didn't tempt and we stayed in G'burg to be nurtured and encouraged as we learned more of how to walk in the steps of our Lord and Savior. We all have different memories of many kinds from house construction stories, to Keebler the rabbit, tree climbing, "woods" exploration, wonderful Bible lessons and teaching.

and NOW we get to be related !!!!!!

We and her and him and her are waiting for them to update pleo readers

But since they haven't, Catherine did. All of us are still smiling every time we think about the 2nd engagement of the past 4 months. And we joyfully anticipate 2 weddings in 2010!

Pretty exciting.

And ^that^ statement is an understatement :)

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

soooooo haaappppyyyyy!

And I should add they are too!

:) more info following later on some other blogs probably
lots smiles and happy planning :)

This thought comes off thoughts that percolated out of an email I wrote to a friend. Your input and thoughts welcomed...

Ok, when we go out - say to dinner at a nice restaraunt - we put on our "nice" clothes. Some women even wear high heels! But we certainly get cleaned up and put on something that we wouldn't want to wear while changing the oil in the car or canning beets.

These dress up clothes (usually) look nice and serve their intended purpose - covering us, keeping us warm, helping us look attractive to our spouse.

But they aren't "hard" working clothes. If Craig had to change a tire or suddenly fix the car, he actually has a set of coveralls in the trunk to protect his nice dress-up clothes. Because his dress up clothes would not only be inappropriate for the job at hand, they could be damaged.

When we come home, we usually change into something more appropriate to the job at hand. Craig definitely does! These work clothes function in many of the same ways the dress up clothes do, they cover him, keep him warm, and they make him look attractive to his spouse :) But if he would not wear them to an important meeting at work; folks would think he was part of the tree pruning staff, not engineering. His work clothes would be inappropriate for the job at hand.

His work clothes are rugged and suited to hard work. Sometimes I've had to patch them, but his tough jeans, insulated coveralls, and Carhart jacket etc. are made for hard work.

Just like clothes, when we go "out" we sometimes set aside some of our family work that is more appropriately done at home and we take on a different role. We put on a different "face" because we responding to a different responsibility, a different role, in a different way. It is not that the face is "fake" when we say hello and smile to someone even if inside we are feeling pain. But because the setting is not the appropriate place to wear work attitudes and faces or the appropriate place to do the hard work.

So I've been thinking. There are times and places when wearing a "dress-up" face is appropriate. And there are times and places where we really need to wear work attitudes and faces. Sometimes I think we get mixed up. Other times I think others interacting with us get mixed up too, either by our actions or by their own confusion.

How much is cultural? How much is important to maintain? How much do we hide behind 'dress-up' faces? Is it possible to use "work clothes" faces to look like we are working, but are not?

Ok, now your thoughts....

Right here
This is a really thought-provoking video with a good use of an analogy (I like analogies) and good running commentary for discussion. Playing it safe like this comment is important. Playing it safe by avoiding situations that challenge my faith and make me work to strengthen it is counterproductive to God's way of feeding the fire and purging impurities from my life.

I have always liked 2nd Peter chp 1 as one of my favorite Bible passages about how to escape the corruption in the world. And the part I like the best is that I don't have to have it all figured out at this point in time, but I'm "goaded" everytime by the words that say these qualities must be mine and increasing. So my goal each day is to grow stronger by feeding on His Word, spending time with Him in prayer and meditation and with others who encourage my spiritual growth and help me because they love my soul and feed it with their love for me and especially their love for God. I'm grateful for many of our brethren's strength and I'm grateful to know you Eddie. :)

I really appreciate Eddie Legg (and Melaine and Tillie too). I have seen him mature from a rather obnoxious teenager with an attitude (grins here) to a very remarkable man who has gone through some pretty stressful growth periods. And now he is a "goad" for me - one that uses God's Word to challenge me often. I truly appreciate the Leggs - the older who've encouraged Craig and I in our walk with Christ so many times, and the youngers who have not only encouraged us with words and occasional admonitions, but by the way they show growth in their own lives and walks with Christ. Thank you Leggs and Legg relatives!