Here's to Hampton Inns

We're in one.  A Hampton Inn, I mean.

in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Charlie and I pulled out of our drive at 6:15 this a.m.

I've been keeping too many late nights and very early  mornings.  Big Yawn.

But no matter.

We've driven up through Chattanooga, to Knoxville, turned East on I-40 and through Asheville, North Carolina - on to Winston-Salem.  Arrived at about 2:30 EST.

Let me just say that going through the "foothills" of the Smokey Mountains today was incredible.

Pictures tomorrow of the campus and Kate's new world up here.

Gentle on Wednesday

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.
G A L A T I A N S 5 : 2 2 & 2 3

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
G A L A T I A N S 5 : 2 4

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect,
1 P E T E R 3 : 1 5

Here's the thing - you ought to see what surrounds verse 15 in 1 Peter 3.  He's answering believers who have been insulted, who  fear the possibility and probability of hostile people attempting to harm them because of their faith.  Besides telling them to respond with gentleness, he also tells them not to be frightened and to also keep a clear conscience.  


And

in

1 T I M O T H Y 6 : 1 1

Paul tells Timothy to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

instead of

the love and eagerness of and for more and more money.

He tells Timothy that God likeness, or Godliness, with contentment is great gain.

I guess I'll stop my gentle word search.

and I'll talk about other things now.

in the next posts.

Charlie and I are driving to Winston Salem tomorrow.  To see Kate.

Gentle, Strong Enough to Break a Bone. Whoa!

Gentle rain,

Gentle breeze,

Gentle as a lamb,

Gentle heart,

Gentle voice,

Gentle words,

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
P R O V E R B S 1 5 : 1

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
P R O V E R B S 2 5 : 1 5

As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
E P H E S I A N S 4 : 1 - 5

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1 P E T E R 3 : 1 - 4

Before anyone gets lofty ideas, those of you who are gentle by nature, and before anyone gets insanely overwhelmed and mad and frustrated and freaked out by that last verse, those of you who are like me, in no way gentle or submissive by nature, especially where your husband is concerned - I'm by nature neither gentle nor submissive- you can ask Charlie and you can ask my 4 daughters.  Still - here is the improvement.  At age 59 that verse doesn't freak me out.  It doesn't stress me out.  Charlie is a believer, but I believe it can apply to just living out our lives before our husbands to influence them as they grow in Christ - if they are indeed in Christ - redeemed.  I'm just saying let's remember - what God asks of us - He provides the means to accomplish.  It's His business.  Lay ourselves at His feet - in our inadequacy - and allow Him to do the work.  I pray it won't take as long for each of you as it is taking for me.

Psst!!! (Whisper) Look what he asks of the guys.....  :-)  ......  Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.  Cool!  Huh?

What or Whom Is Guarding Your Heart and Mind?

Has anyone seen today's quote from Of First Importance?

I really really love the truth of it.  The reality of it.  I am indescribably grateful for the truth and reality of it.



“The kingdom of God is the new and final age that began with the coming of Jesus. His kingdom is not part of the present age — an age where the flesh reigns; where people are divided, relationships are broken, and suspicion and competition dominate; where money, sex, and power are abused; where leaders are first and servants are last; where behavior is controlled by laws, and identity is defined by race, gender, or social standing; and where gifts and resources are used for the advancement of oneself.

Rather, the kingdom of God is the new age. It is the age of the Spirit (Matt 12:28). It is the age of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). The kingdom of God is about the renewal, restoration, and reconciliation of all things, and God has made us a part of this great story of salvation.”

- Neil H. Williams, Gospel Transformation (Jenkintown, Pa.; World Harvest Mission, 2006), iii.

Other thing.  I want to regularly put up verses from the bible which talk about gentleness.  There's a lot about being gentle.  I'm not naturally gentle in spirit - so I am interested in God cultivating that in me.  I want Him to.  It's hard to see from the inside out the result of His working in me - but this has been a main request for quite a long time now.

Philippians 4: 4-7  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Note:  these verses follow 2 verses in which Paul is pleading with 2 women in the church to agree with each other in the Lord, and asking others to help them agree with each other in the Lord)

Ahhhhhh.  The peace of God which transcends all understanding.  It will guard my heart and my mind.  I'll gladly take that.

Wow! Whew! What Happened?!

Okay, let's see.

Okay - I'm back.  I'm here.

You would't believe it.

I got this cadillac of a computer in the spring - Easter week - I think.    It's supposed to be a miracle computer - laptop.  Isn't it?  I thought.  I've heard.

But I woke on Thursday morning, October 7, casually turning on my laptop - in my sleepy state - just turning it on - and it wouldn't turn on.  It wouldn't!  I touched every key which had nothing to do with turning on a computer.  But the turnon key didn't work, so I hit combos of keys and tried everything.  Nothing.

I knew that Ellie, Luke, and Andrew were due to be at my house in the afternoon - because Ann and Steve would be celebrating their 8th anniversary - ahhhhhh - but my baby  my computer was sick - as in not working!!!!!   I had to get to the Apple Store at Bridgestreet, and back again, before the grandbabes arrived.  I did it.  They kept it.  No explanation.  No apologies that the computer of all computers just decided to quit.  No embarrassing awkward looks - just total confidence on their part about repairing the situation.  Deep breath.  I walked to my car.

We had Ellie and Luke and Andrew on Thursday afternoon and evening -

That was just a visual slice of our afternoon activities when Charlie arrived home.  I had blocked the driveway with my car so that noone could turn into the drive - and I let the children play on their vehicles in our driveway.  When Charlie arrived and brought out a chair - other chairs came out and it turned into a photo op which turned into kids harrassing each other.  We went inside soon after this for dinner and baths and bed.

Friday was Friday.

Saturday went to H'ville with Ann and children.  At the end of that day I dropped my already feeble cell phone.  That dropping it finished it off.  I could receive calls and speak, but couldn't hear the person talking.

Today - on Charlie's "Columbus Day" holiday, we went to  Huntsville to retrieve my repaired computer and get a new cell phone for me.  I can communicate with the outside world again!

That's all.

This week - we travel to Winston-Salem to visit Kate.

John Crawling on Saturday Morning

Interested in the Camera

Moving toward the camera

Getting closer

Camera moves back

Thinking about that flash

John's closing in on it

but camera moves away again and to a side angle

and then the other side angle

Now he's interested in the kitchen noises which happen to be Ada and Mom

His crawling style, take off position

good crawl effort

not his best form

much better

and once again, interested in the camera

Have a happy October Saturday.

Enjoy your football games or whatever you plan to do with this day.

McDonough So Far

and we did go into the "city" today.
I like saying that and the way it sounds...
we "drove into the city".

It's never simple, getting everyone into the car - just getting them and the "stuff" out the door.  Here Ada sat down in the threshold of the front door to read - while we made several trips in and out to load up.

Then she took a few turns on her tricycle - well - not exactly - she can't turn the pedals over and over yet,

but she does a little pushing with her feet.  She'll get the hang of it.

Laura Beth and I took turns with John on our hip and using the other hand to "load up".

Ahhh, gotta get the hair pulled back and into a ponytail.

Our destination was Trader Joe's.  Fun place to shop for groceries - healthy/organic/not as pricey as Whole Foods - and on the way we ate at Chic Fil A.

John did really good, let us eat while he hung out in the umbrella stroller.  We were amazed that he stayed so content for so long.

So we did all of that and came back home.

Both John and Ada fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Here, we are playing Barbie Games on the computer.

And I think that here, we are Skyping with Kate in Winston-Salem, NC

while John watches from the floor.

That was our day.

By the hardest both John and Ada are in bed.  Well, John wasn't a difficult "go to bed".

But it seems to be Ada's latest challenge as of last night.

It was pretty wild last night and she made an effort at fighting it tonight -

 but it seems like she's finally conceded.