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Archives For November 30, 1999

Recollection

June 25, 2010 — 3 Comments

It’s cool how the small things cause you to remember stuff from your past – both good and, well, not-so-good.

In my new role as a foster father (not-soon-enough adoptive father!), the other day, Sam & I were cleaning up the side of the house and we were “team sweeping” the leaves and stuff – me sweeping, him using the dust pan.  He was having a tough time getting all the stuff in the dust pan and I recalled how my dad taught me the “sweep, back up the pan, and repeat” process for getting all the stuff picked up.  So, naturally, I imparted my well-honed “sweeping” knowledge to him…

Pretty cool – and not so painful.  I’m sure, in the course of our lives together, I’ll have ample opportunity to share and teach Sam about the not-so-good or hard lessons I’ve learned…

I was reading in Colossians yesterday and these two verses from chapter two popped out:

9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

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Hel-lo. My Name Is Den-nis.

April 16, 2010 — Leave a comment

OK.  Please read the post title again in your best robot voice…that will lend to the theme here.

Ever had one of those days – or maybe weeks?  I have – I guess we all do.

The other day, I found myself in robot mode.  You know, where in spite of the junk that’s going on around you, you enter that safe and socially presentable state called: ROBOT MODE.  (just for effect, re-read those two words in your robot voice.)

I was bummed, busy, and had stuff to do and people to work with…so I “engaged” and went through my day as if nothing were wrong – you know: birds singing, rainbows in the sky, whistling aloud, etc.  Believe me, I’m good at it too – I bet I fool most people.

Except one…OK, two.  (OK, maybe more, but I’m only focusing on two here…)

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Happy Birthday, Karen!

February 10, 2010 — Leave a comment

Hug hug, kiss kiss, hug hug, big kiss, little hug, kiss kiss,
little kiss.

In Family
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Blessed Be THE Name

December 7, 2009 — 2 Comments

Resting on this truth today:

“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.”

Psalm 33:20-22

Amazing Hope Giver,

You are all knowing, all powerful, all sufficient,…You are perfect.

I know it.

I trust it.

Blessed be Your amazing name!

d

In Adoption, Family, General, Life , , , , ,
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Remembrance

October 23, 2009 — 2 Comments

me & momi was looking for a file on my computer today and saw the directory

the one called “scans”

i look at it every once in a while – to remember

you see, it has a bunch of pictures of my mom (yeah, that’s me driving)

ones I scanned when we were in Montana for her memorial service

it is a directory i usually frequent at least once a month – spending a few minutes looking, remembering, and reading

mom obitreading, because it also has a scanned copy of the obituary she wrote for herself

it’s kinda neat seeing her writing and almost hearing her say the words as she wrote them

i miss her…

…but, claim 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Maranatha!

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Family

May 30, 2009 — 6 Comments

famToday, Karen and I finished our pre-adoption training with the agency we are working with.  The only training we have left is our CPR & First Aid (if you saw the re-run of The Office the other night…I won’t pull a Dwight!)

My brain is full after today – a lot to process, consider, and file away for future use…

Two thoughts from the day:

  1. I thank God for my own family.  We were not perfect, but I did live a life that was free from many of the sad things that so many children too often go through.  Most espcecially, I am grateful for my parents.  Just as any kid, there were times that I didn’t feel that way, but man I so appreciate them.
  2. I am excited and anxious about the children that Karen and I will have the opportunity to pour our lives into.  I pray that we are used to heal, reaffirm, encourage, and all the things that are necessary for the children that God blesses us with.

I haven’t written too mugh about our journey, one day I will spend some time doing that and post it.

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Providence

May 27, 2009 — 1 Comment

So my life is far from hard.  The “trials” I have gone through (I really don’t even feel right calling them that) are not comparable to those that many have had and I humbly praise God for that (if that is even a right thing to do).

I guess the toughest thing that I (and Karen) have gone through has been our two plus-year adoption journey.  A plus-year year combination of international then domestic, on then off, known then unknown status, and now back on track.  A series of ups and down – all the while knowing that our amazing Heavenly Father was in control…even when we didn’t know where He was leading next!  BTW, Karen is great.  At one point, she described a disappointing situation this way, “First I was sad.  Then I was mad.  Then I was glad!”

As you can imagine – plus-year years of a mix of emotions.  At times, we’ve wondered “why God?”  At times, we’ve asked “why not God?”  We’ve even (in all honesty) said, “come on God!”  We’ve cried, been confused, been excited, been hurt, been mad, been hopeful, been discouraged.  The cool part is that through it all…THROUGH IT ALL, we’ve known that God was in control and had a plan…we’ve just gotten to see it revealed in segments and in His perfect timing!

Tuesday, I was listening to a Andy Stanley’s Defining Moments podcast (#4) and John 9:1-3 hit me.  I’ve read this so many times, heard sermons, read commentaries…  This time, it just hit me anew.  It reads:

1As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  3“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

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Going Home!

May 14, 2009 — Leave a comment

So I have been on travel all week in Key Largo, Florida for a work conference.  Location is nice, but I haven’t really enjoyed it all that much – I have had TERRIBLE allergies and have pretty much been completely clogged up for the past two days. I know, I can hear the violins playing all over!

OK, I did venture out today after the meeting and took the 2.5-hour drive to Key West, ate a late lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, and walked around.  Shot the requisite pictures of the Southernmost Point marker and the Interstate 1 “Mile 0” sign.  Then made the long drive home.  Dinner was the finer cuisine of Waffle House, as there really wasn’t anything closer to the resort and I didn’t want to pay $40 for a hamburger!

kw pics

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Aaron, Hur, and…Karen!

May 8, 2009 — 3 Comments

Aside from posting a Sunday set list, I generally don’t much blog on weekends…so I am posting this today.

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 17:8-13 (NIV)

So this Saturday is the 23rd anniversary of my first date with my wonderful wife, Karen (one of the few dates that I have committed to memory: her birthday, our first date, our engagement date, and (of course) our wedding anniversary).  OK, the actual date was on May 10, but in 1986, it was a Saturday.

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Thinking About Mom.

April 6, 2009 — 1 Comment

mom_heart_tattoo

One year ago today was the last time I saw my mom this side of heaven.  I had traveled to see her and my family in Montana since she had been sick and was back in the hospital.  As had been the case many times, her room was the gathering point for the family.  It was a great visit – all we really did was just spend time together – with each other…with Mom.  We laughed, cried, ate, talked, prayed – it was nice.  In my heart, I knew her time was close and I will always be glad I went.

If someone in your life has passed away, I’m sure you’ll agree that there are things that bring thoughts of them to you as you go through any given day – leading to tears, laughter, smiles, etc. As I was driving to work recently, doing my morning multi-task drive/prayer/worship, the Charlie Hall song below came on and just reminded me of my mom and the later stages of her life here on earth.

My mom’s body was weak and tired and I know at times she simply wanted Jesus to call her home (she would often tell us that)…but it was in His time, not hers (or ours). I get chills just thinking of my mom and the lines: Finally the voice I have followed for life / has a glorious face that is lit up with light / And you’ll come for me, no more pain, peace, / No more fear, release / just lost and consumed with my glorious King.

Mom is no longer tired or in pain, just worshiping her glorious Savior in His presence!

I can only imagine the day when I will say: Finally the voice I have followed for life / has a glorious face that is lit up with light.

Maranatha!

x
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