Sitting on a couch should NOT be newsworthy....

Going a bit political today.

I have stated before, I did not vote for President Trump, but he was elected and therefore is my president, and I pray for him, his family, and his responsibility. I listen to Talk Radio, news shows and things of that nature often. I like keeping in the know, nationally, globally, and locally. And in the past few weeks since President Trump was elected I have noticed that the mainstream media every hour of every day finds something to critique, ridicule, or blow out of proportion that he does or his administration.

This very morning the following article showed in my Facebook newsfeed:

Conway criticized for kneeling on oval office couch

And the attached picture:

The lady in the picture is Kellyanne Conway, President Trumps adviser, and the very same lady who ran his successful presidential campaign. I have heard that she has occasionally said some things out of context, or that someone in that position so close to President of the United States should not say.

She is being criticized this morning for how she is sitting on the couch: the fact that her feet are tucked under her. The only real issue I have with her sitting on the couch is her knees should be together. Now, looking at the picture, she is the only person sitting, so she probably should have stood up. But somehow the media sees her sitting is lack or respect for the office.

I like that the article does outline that former President Obama routinely plopped his feet on White House furniture during meetings. From the article:

"Other users have countered with numerous photos of former President Barack Obama resting his feet on the office's famed resolute desk at various times during his eight years in office."

I never heard any outrage from the media or President Obama's supporters about his habit. But an adviser to the current President kneels on a couch and everyone is outraged.

I really am over the media the days. I am about ready to hang it up. No more news - none of it. I want to know what matters.

• How is our country going to end abortion?
• Will the current President rescind the Affordable Healthcare Act?
• What is going on in Israel and the Middle East?
• What are global missionaries doing in other countries?

I do not need my newsfeed blown up with a woman sitting on a couch, and everyone acting like it is the end of civility in our country.

My Biblical lesson from this issue is the following:

Colossians 3:23-24 (NLT)
²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴ Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

We need to remember sisters, that all we do we need to do as is for the Lord. If you are working, work diligently and faithfully. Be mindful that someone is probably always watching you, and will want to trip you up, and you will not please everyone. But you do not need to please everyone, only your Father in Heaven.

Mrs. Conway seems a nice enough lady, she is human, she will make mistakes. I feel that the media these days wants to restore dignity and decorum to the Presidency, back to the years of Lady Bird Johnson or even Nancy, or The Kennedy's, but they have been silent through the past few years. They are acting like Mrs. Conway's behavior has never been seen, but the former president they now miss had less respect for the dignity of the office in which he served. At times I lament, and want to go back in time to a period when politics, money, and religion were taboo topics. But those cats were let out of the bag decades ago and the bag is lost. So going forward, lets talk about what matters, lets give grace when it is needed, and lets be merciful to others.

An Opportunity to Show Mercy

 God is so sweet to us. When you are struggling, He will provide an opportunity for you to grow and overcome.

The past week I have been busy cutting out 256 squares, 5 inch by 5 inch, to make a king size quilt. I am making this quilt in the memory of Charli, and to give myself something to hold. That has been one of my hardest adjustments, I was pregnant and never got to hold my baby, my child. And so I have decided to make something, something I can hold.

It has been a while since I have quilted, the last one I made was for Stone, so it has been over 2 years. And I have never made one this large. The largest was a queen sized quilt, and that was the very first quilt I ever made.

Last night I finished cutting the squares out, and then laid them out in the order I wanted them. Then I collected them in batches so I could prepare to sew them together. The top piece will take me a week or two to put together if I diligently dedicate time to it. I am not going to rush. I have Precept, my husband has his ministry class, Abigail starts T-Ball this week, and Stone will begin potty training soon. Needless to say we are busy, and I want to give this quilt the proper attention needed.

Here are all 256 pieces laid out on my living room floor. The perfect sized quilt that my family can all lay on and watch movies together with - someday.

So, I titled this post about showing mercy, and as of yet I have not explained. 

My sweet husband woke up with an ear infection this morning. So I took the kids to church by myself, but we only stayed for Connection Groups. The rest of today has been cleaning, tidying, and cooking! One of my husbands sweet clients gave us pheasant. Well my husband could not wait to try it, so I found a recipe. That required me to go to the grocery store (solo time!). As I entered the subdivision he messaged me the following:

"Sorry babe. Went to the restroom once I realized the kids were to quiet came back and Stone got into your quilt stuff and messed up how you had it stored."

I almost began to cry. I was thinking of 256 squares scattered and out of place. When I came home I saw my sewing box open and empty. And I saw fabric...my heart sunk. I also heard my 2 year old crying from his bedroom. 

Upon closer inspection, the fabric was my extra pieces. And my basket of 256 squares was safely in place, untouched.

I had my husband bring me my son, and I talked to him as I put my box back together. I was calm, but let him know that what he did was not okay, that he even could have been hurt. He sniffled, and cried. And once I completed restoring my sewing box, I brought him to me and hugged him and kissed his head.

I am sad to say, that had I stumbled across this disarray instead of being prepared for it, I doubt I would have been as merciful. Throughout my life I have struggled with bursts of anger in situations like today. I am not proud of it, I am acutely ashamed and hate that fleshly side of me. But I am grateful that I was able to talk to my son, and love him through his wrong action today instead of being mad at him and wanting to get onto him. 

I am thankful for the opportunity to show mercy today.

Hope from the Post Office

I received a sweet and caring gift this evening after work.
A Hope Box. Gifts for those who have lost a child - no matter the age of the child. There was a sweet personalized letter, embroidered handkerchief, a journal, and some reading material.

If you ever know anyone in need of one, just ask.

Mad at God?

I cannot hate God. I am not mad at God. I am commanded to love God I will  - no matter my circumstance. God is good.

Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Psalm 136:1, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever."

God is good and he loves me. I am mourning, but my hope is in God. Isaiah 55: 8&9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD, For as the heavens are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." I do not understand why Brock and I are going through this tragedy. Again I say, as I did in my last post, there is no word to describe a parent who has lost a child.

But, it is okay. I am okay with not understanding , I am trusting in God. Should God impart why this has happened,I will bless his name. Should God never impart why this has happened, I will bless his name. "And he said, 'Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." - Job 1: 21 & 22