I don't have time for an actual update right now...just a little one. I have time enough to share an  episode that occured yesterday in the backyard.

Marky and I....while playing tennis.

*thwack* I hit the ball hard and send it flying over to his side.

He returns it with just as much force. (Newton's Third Law is in full swing by now.) Pun intended.

And one last time, hoping to get the best of him...I hit the ball really hard and send it sailing over his head.

"Woah! I like your style, WOMAN!"

Ok, where do little guys learn things that that? LOL!

It was so funny...he especially put the emphasis on style and woman.  :) I love you Marker!

Mom and I (mostly Mom did) drove up to Murrietta Springs last weekend to attend the annual Women's Retreat. Mom got a ticket. (More on that later.)

 I was so blessed and encouraged by the teaching, and the time of uninterrupted worship and praise. The theme, "Abide in the Vine", was based on the verses taken from John 15:1-11. Apparently, you only retain about 3% of what you hear, so I took notes like crazy. I related to a lot of what the speaker, Joanna Weaver, was saying...especially the part about trying to measure up to God's law. Ok, big surprise here, it's impossible to EVER measure up. Jesus came to earth and died for us, BREAKING the law of sin and death. If there were even the teeniest chance of us measuring up, and if our salvation were even slightly dependant on the extent of our good works, God wouldn't have sent Christ to die for us. 

Breaking news, huh? Then why do we keep trying to "go at least one day without sinning"? Raise your hand if that's ever worked out for you. I don't know how many times I've been guilty of trying to measure up, and "be good", then, when I fail miserably I kinda give up.  I'd never fully grasped the concept of coming to God dirty, and in need of His love and saving grace. I'd always come to Him with something akin to: "God, please forgive me for not doing this, that and the other, but thanks for giving me the grace to do this, this and this right."  "All our righteousness is like filthy rags.." Honestly, I didn't want to come to Christ broken, feeling so unworthy. He's so holy, I'd always felt like I had to bring something to the table, or else He wouldn't waste His time with me.  Wow, was I ever wrong! He wants me to come to Him exactly the way I am....and I what I am sure ain't pretty. It was so liberating, I no longer need to trust in myself to measure up! That has been drilled into me, through AWANA, bible stories, even Mom and Dad my whole life...it was only last weekend that God opened my eyes to fully understand what not trusting in myself meant. *Deep breath* Ok, so, that's what I learned on Friday night through her testimony. 

 Saturday was all about God being the Vinedresser that prunes us, the branches that spring from the Vine. "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples." Ok, so how does the "bearing much fruit" process come about? We allow God to prune us by showing us the areas in our lives that need work, and we let Him work in us...and don't resist it. This usually involves letting go of a lot of things that don't strenghten our relationship with the Vine. It is impossible to retain our sin and the pleasure it brings, and still remain connected to the Vine.  God can use anything to mold and shape us...we need to be humble and accept the instruments He chooses to use....even when said instrument may be a person we're not exactly  friends with.  "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." God meant for us to delight in our relationship with Him, not to cower in fear that we will be "cast out as a branch....and thrown into the fire." 

Saturday night and Sunday morning, Joanna focused mostly on verse 12: "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  You know, you can't love someone, and yet at the same time, not like them. Go figure.  Oh, sure, I can claim to love someone, but I never do anything that will compromise my happiness or gratification for their sake. Why? Well, Lord, I mean...come on! I'm not,like, really good friends with them or anything, why should I? Indeed Lois, why should you love your fellow brothers and sisters as I have loved you. Oops...  

  Love is more than a noun, its a verb. You cannot claim to love someone, and yet refuse to show them love. 

Am I going again next year?  ABSOLUTELY! I can hardly wait.

Ok, so, about Mom's traffic ticket. In order for this to be funny, you've got to understand mom. She is a law-abiding citizen....in EVERY sense of the term, she goes above and beyond the call of duty. If the Speed limit is 60, Mom's needle doesn't cross 55. Mom stops at the yellow light.  No "U" turn, no problem...Mom drives a few streets down just to be safe.  Ok, so maybe to some of you this is normal....but you obviously don't have my Dad. Dad lived his first 28 years in Romania, where they view traffic laws as more...suggestions. Young man w/first car+traffic laws that aren't enforced= novel outlook on driving. When he came to America, and got pulled over for the first time, he was like: "Seriously? This actually happens here?..Man, you people are weird."

He's probably broken every traffic rule ever written....twice. Speed, for Dad, is relative.  For most people Green=go. Yellow= slow down. Red=stop.  Not for Dad.

Traffic light turns green: Dad goes... faster than necessary.

Traffic light turns yellow: Dad floors it.

Traffic light turns red: "Hang on kids, We're gonna make it! WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT!!!!"

So, growing up with these two extreme drivers, I've had a tumultuos childhood.  :) But anyway, I could get  off on a tangent about this whole subject...

Mom and I had barely arrived in Murrietta, and we had time to do some shopping before the Retreat began at 4:00. So Mom tries to make a left turn, waiting for an opening. Out of nowhere, a cop on a motercycle signals her to roll down her window. Mom's confused.

"Hello officer, is anything wrong?"

"Ma'am, what are you trying to do?" (Do they always answer a question with a question?)

"I'm trying to make a left turn so that I can turn into Burlington Coat Factory." (Mom smiles.)

"Ma'am, you're trying to make a left turn and you're in between the double lines."

"Oh."

Ha ha. Mom got a traffic ticket....I'm telling this one to my grandkids.

Anyway, it was a blessed weekend, and I'm so thankful that Mom and I had the opportunity to go. :)

Have a great day, and remember to be a blessing!