Comparing Scrapbook Die Cutting Systems: Slice, Wizard, Cuttlebug, Cricut, (Coluzzle)

I’ve been comparing die cutting machine since I don’t have any at all for cutting shapes and letters.  It is a lot more expensive to buy a ton of punches than to invest in one of these, so I’m in the market for one.  Here’s what I’ve been finding, for anyone interested in comparing die-cutting machines.

The cheapest Slice (click to see video)I could find was about $109.00 tonight here.  The other day I saw one in a special deal where you got a pre-order free cartidge that would ship in February. The Slice is very cool.  But, I often craft while watching TV with the fam, and it might be too loud for me (note that in the video, they voice-over the sound…it cuts into a glass matte, so it is going to make a razor against glass sound–search other videos on youTube to hear that).  I think another possible con for me might be the need for a sticky surface  I like using my cutting surface fully for several products, all the time–I am imagining a hairball of all sorts of paper getting stuck on my cutting mat.   I’m also not sure I’d want to go all the way through the digital screens to find each letter I needed.  But, I love the font selectionsand it just looks so darn fun to play with!  LOVE how up to date the cartridges and fonts are, and the variety of alpha sizes for each letter on one cartridge as it’s electronic.

The Wizard, an all metal, very sturdy die cutting machine, creates GREAT embossing with it’s like 500 or 5000 pounds of pressure…I can’t remember, but has a loud ratchety sound when you push the level up and down to feed the plates through (again, interferes with card making while TV watching, or crafting after The Hub is in bed (often, when I’m hitting a creative surge). I craft in the guest room right next to our bedroom and right next to the TV room.  This same company also makes the wonderful “Nestabilities” dies which greatly reduce the cost of punches for frequently used stacks geometric and scalloped shapes.  Their dies look best in the Wizard, but people say they also get great results with the Cuttlebug (next), once they learn the correct “sandwich” to use without breaking their Cuttlebug “B plate” (replacement cost approx. $7 for 2).  I would love to have this one if it were easily to store, lighter weight, and didn’t make the noise.

The Cuttlebug is raved on scrapbooking forums as a compact, handy, low- cost die-cutting machine that will accept any manufacturer’s dies.  Drawback (as with all manual die cut machines)…letters have to be done individually and projects that may require repeat cutting would take a while.  Dies only come in the size of the die (as compared to the Cricut or Slice where multiple sizes can be acheived).  A plus is that you can use tiny scraps of paper and just place them over letters without having to pre-cut paper with any precision, AND it’s a simple approach requiring no computer.

The Cuttlebug embosses as well, (though I’ve read not to the very sharp extent that the Wizard does, still very pleasing results for users). The Cuttlebug also embosses it’s own nice Provocraft brand “A2 folders” (which is the size of a small card).  The Wizard will emboss these folders as well.  They are called “folders” because the card sort of sandwiches between the positive and negative imprints of the embossed design, the the machine smashes in the image as you roll it through.  (I found that applying pressure using a Pampered Chef mini muffin wooden tool works pretty well also with these  folders if you don’t have a Cuttlebug, especially if you spritz the paper with alcohol mist first for a stronger imprint).

The cheapest Cuttlebug I could find in my comparisons online was $39.99  at Custom Crops.  If you order today and place an order above $100.00, you get free shipping with their code posted on the home page. This machine is currently compatible with all dies on the market, simply by changing the plate thickness “sandwich”.  You can look up those “recipes” online in scrapbooking forums.  Just the fact that every person I know who has one uses words like:  “I LOVE my bug…once you have one, you will love it and not regret it” is a selling point.

I would personally have this machine simple to use with nestability dies.  I love cards done with these.  I have been working on my collection and have my family buy me sets for Christmas each year.  It try to wait a year to avoid the “new die” markups.  There are machines now like the “bug” that allow for even larger dies.  I probably won’t upgrade, but know some friends who love this flexibility.

The Cricut, another electronic cutter, allows operation without a computer using font cartridges, or you can hook it up to a computer with a program called SCAL (acronym for “Sure Cuts a Lot” at $75.00).  SCAL is a third-party software program unaffiliated with Provocraft (makers of the Cricut) that will allow you to cut any font on your computer, or any .svg file.  Here’s a link that gives you “all the details” on SCAL in conjunction with the free downloadable program, Inkscape, which converts your font layouts to an .svg file needed by SCAL.  SCAL has a WYSIWYG editor so that you can see what the machine will cut, eliminating the need for the package sold by Provocraft. (Cricut Design Studio or something like that, also about $70.00-$75 at Wal*mart).  I’m told you can update any drivers with older free trials of this program, but they are getting hard to find…Provocraft is trying to block the sale of this product as their company doesn’t own it.  I personally would not buy the Cricut without the ability to cut my own fonts…they should just get on board with the program or something.  I love SCAL.

This is a good video showing the settings on the Cricut machine keypad and how to adjust them for papers from a thin vellum to a thicker cardstock.

The “personal” sized Cricut also called “mini” will cut 6″X12″ paper, perhaps 6X24 if you CUT A 12×24 mat and get creative with it.  If you have already the EK Success Cuterpede paper trimmer, you know how easy it is to cut 6″X12″ cuts by swinging out the side extension arm which gives you a perfect 6″ guide.  The best price I’ve found for this machine new online with one standard cartridge post black Friday sales was at Custom Crops for $119.00.  They promise to ship within 2-4 days and free shipping with purchases over $100 with a code from their home page.   I considered one with no cartridge since I want to hook it to a spare computer, but if I want to use it at crops, thought it would be nice to have at least the one “traveling font” (I’ve also since read that you need at least one cartridge to make SCAL work…don’t know if this is backed up by science or not).  That is the case.

The Cricut “Expression” is also available this year on their site for $219 which will cut 12X12 papers.  I didn’t think I’d need this size, but have seen wall applications using vinyl where I can see the benefit of a larger size…for, say a family wall Monogram with a big circle around it.  I think I can design around that for now, though using quotes or words rather than large objects.  (I have since upgraded to the Expression.  Prices have come down on black Friday sales.  I think I got mine at Wal*Mart this year [2010] for $180 with two free cartridges.  I’ve also seen them on ebay with four cartridge packages for about that much.)

The pluses for the Cricut are:  if you need to cut out duplicates, you just tell it to cut again without having to cut shapes or letters out over and over as with a traditional die machine.  Also, you can cut any dingbat on your system with the upgrades discussed above.  The negative is, is doesn’t emboss, which is something I’m really into for cards right now.

The Coluzzle:  This isn’t really a “die cutting” machine per se, but it is, then again.  You take a specially made knife with a swivel blade and run it around thin, plastic templates to create your shape.  I personally own and love this system for it’s lightweight and compact storage and portability.  It is harder to do alphas and the ones I do have are HUGE.  I love that about them…then again, not much flexibility.  I have continued to add to my Coluzzle system, however, even as I look at other systems simply due to it’s usefulness in addition to other systems.  I like the basic shapes best and love them…use them all the time.  I use them a lot of Sunday School projects, or to mass cut images for cards if I have time to work while we are traveling.  It cuts very well in my lap and is lightweight for travel.

Useage:  currently, I love to use it to cut two size shapes and follow the pattern of the smaller shape to create a scallop on the larger with my decorative scissors.  I am using a lot of my decorative scissors in this way for cards…I think the results are very beautiful and clean, simple…and a lot of fun:

I actually cut four coluzzle ovals for this card, cutting one down with scissors.

Also, I often use it in my 2nd grade Sunday School class–the kids love to watch me do them.  For portability and ease of storage and use…I love this product.

Negative:  cutting the leftover areas where channels end is a bit tricky.  I often need to do cleanup with scissors.  I bought a Creative Memories Oval Cutter off ebay this Christmas for clean edges on my ovals and circles, such as in trimming actual photos.  I love that with my Coluzzle, I can just lay the necessary mat over my work space and cut, whereas with my CM trimmers, I’ve got to have a cutting mat.  I tend to keep a dirty work surface, so all that to say, there are times I prefer to use both.

Tuesday Happenings.

It’s been a pleasure to receive honest emails on the last couple posts.  Thanks for your transparency and authenticity.  Remember, the goal is that we bless and honor the heart of God, not that we act like other people or try to reach standards of discipline , though discipline is involved. 

If finances are a struggle for you, find the counsel you need to get debt relief, and know the joy that comes from giving.  Giove to him first.  Beyond that, offerings are the cherry on top.  The tithe is the goal.  10%. 

I appreciate the opportunity to try to gently teach other’s in the same way others have so graciously and humbly taught us over the years.  Yes, it’s hard.  But, worth the freedom and joy.

In other news:  today was “jury day”.  I was not randomly selected for the Grand Jury.  I WILL serve on circuit court for at least the next three months.  That will be a child care challenge.  I may have to call on some of you.

~~~

I just settled down for a moment to enjoy a cup of brew from my new Cappuccino maker.  I love me a good cup of decaf, but it’s hard to find good decaf, much less a good cappuccino.  I’m often dissatisfied with the 4 dollar cup at Starbucks (as if we had one).  I found a Mr. Coffee machine for $2.00 yesterday, originally a $100.00 machine. 

It’s a little messy and time consuming, but SO FUN!  I made us some last night and showed my husband the process.  I may have to grace you with another stellar how-to video.  The thing about those videos, expressing how to do things people are interested in is…it invites non-believers to your blog.  Yesterday, I had 1,100 hits to this blog over a random post on scrapbooking I had done last winter.  While people are here, I hope they find a touch of grace and that they long for the joy of Jesus.  Any tools we can use to invite people into our lives, right?

I’ve also been wanting to try out a MAC.  gasp.  Not necessary BUY one, just TRY one.  Why be anxious, oh ye great PC folk?  I’m just trying it, not converting!  Anyway, I found a 1o yr. old college entry level iMac for $5.00 yesterday. I’ve been told they are like a Toyota, they never die and you don’t have to worry about viruses.  They are great for video and graphics, which I need.   

A friend told me where to check for a missing power cord…the gentlemen at that place  gave it to me free!  Now, I just have to procur a USB keyboard and figure out how to find general word processing software on it.  I hope there is some! 

If I could use it to edit pictures in my scrapbook room and print titles for pages, it would be well worth the space in my scrap room.  Space is at a premium in there!  It’s a lovely large green box of a monitor/computer, not the most attractive in the world, but still a fun find!  Good entertainment if nothing else for $5.   

Well, that’s all my rambling and coffee break for today.  Time to go watch my darling little nephews while Mom runs out for a bit.

Balance and Artistry

To be “artsy”, an “artist” of any kind can be a precarious thing.  It can bring irrational focus and vision for something trite or trivial, at times.  A need to “create”, get “it” out, fine tune.  It can provoke time- consuming, unjustified, attention and focus. 

The results?  Beautiful or noteworthy to some, perhaps.  To others, inconsequential.  

The “consolation” of “the creation” takes a lot out of a person.   Therefore, the “it” can be a mixed blessing, like most things. 

The same for all “gifts” or “talents”.  A fine line between grace and flesh. 

I’m not yet good at that balance sometimes.  I have not yet experienced the effortless, joyful dance of a dancer,  the flow of an ice-skater.  I am still the one falling, bruised, battered, tired.   In the flesh.  I pay the price for focus, or over-focus. 

Insatiably drawn to “it”; blessed relief.

Lord, help me surrender all to You.  Keep the “it” a blessing, whatever they day’s “it” is.   

comments are intentionally off for this post.   (thank you so much for reading)

Bringing the “Life” into Worship

The more Psalms I read, the more I notice:  when Psalmists wrote their Psalms, they were either needing to get through something, just got through something, or saw trouble brewing.  They didn’t just pull words out of thin air about God to tell him how great He was.   They pointed to concrete examples that illustrated their words:  history…real events, creation, real deliverances.  They knew God, and they reminded themselves of his faithfulness when times got tough. 

Sometimes, we are encouraged to forget life to enter worship.  I do that sometimes…take a break and just focus on God, rest in him:  ”hide under the shadow of His wing and find rampart”.  But, if the Psalms are a pattern for our worship, and I think that they are, most often, our lives should not be a “distraction“ from worship, but a catalyst for true worship.

Don’t we often go to worship like we go to a movie, wanting happy relief, entertainment to talk about that week, or to “be moved”?  There are good elements to these things.   But, in order to have energized, life-filled worship, to worship like the Psalmists worshipped, we need to each, individually, bring God into the center of where we are.  When we do, He will shift things in our hearts as we praise; HE will move us.  God pulls us out of our despair, frustration, and fatigue.  He inspires us.  He gives us hope to go on.

Change?  Me?  In worship?  How?  We ”tell God like it is”, and then get quiet enough to “let God tell us like it is.”  That changes us.  That’s what we mean when we say “when we see God, we are changed into His likeness”.  Talk about dynamic worship! 

God tests us.  God tests us to see if we will truly still worship and trust him when things get hard.  God wants to know if we will look at our problems and still choose to praise Him.  I think of the Israelites, God’s chosen people of the Old Testament times.  God reveals in scripture that he tested the Israelites to try to teach, and see if they would worship Him.  They failed.  They failed to remember his goodness, failed to enter his rest, failed to “remember” all they’d seen, failed to teach their children.  Today, we have the benefit of knowing God even through their failures!  Praise God!  Many of the Psalmists praise God for what he did for them during that time, though the people at the time forgot!  How wild is that?  Do we go back into the history of our nation, our churches, and praise God for things he has clearly done for us?  How much would that strengthen our faith?  History is important.

Get this:  Job, and even one Psalmists, nearly fell from the path of truth, wondering why the godless did not seem to suffer.  The wicked seemed to prosper and be in good health!  What’s with that?  I’m just guessing here, but perhaps it is BECAUSE we want to be true worshippers that we go through ”stuff” the ungodly don’t?  I don’t know about you, but I’ll chew on this paragraph for a good long while!

If the Psalms are any indication, most of our worship stems from adversity and deliverance.  God always proves faithful in our times of need–we may not get what we want, but He stills proves faithful, near, a comfort, a help, our strength.  And, because of that…we worship.  We’ve heard it said:  we would not know God personally if it were not tests.  If the Psalms are any indication…we need to be tested a lot. 

This thought occured to me last night:  did David worship because he was a worshipper, or did he worship because he was a warrior?  Because he was a leader?  Because he was a protector?  Because he was always positioned to do God-sized things and need God very near to succeed?  It’s a compelling argument.  He lived fully, and worshipped wholly…and I think one could not have happened without the other.  Are you living fully, attempting to do God-sized things He has called you to do?  Then you will learn to worship.

David HAD to worship. 

What has God put in your path or given you to do to remind you to worship? 

Is it possible that our desire to live “blessed/peacful” lives has pushed away from the things that would position us to truly worship?

A good worship leader, good music, good sound, gifted people, and planned services cannot do this work of authentic worship for us.  Those things can help direct us and should not distract.  But, our response of worship in the midst of our work is what God is hungry for from us.      

The Psalmist’s testimonies often sounded like this (my paraphrase): 

“Lord, I have no idea why I’m going through this.  As far as I can see, I’ve done nothing to deserve it.  I’ve done you no wrong.  But, I know one thing…it’s all from You.  Everything that happens is from You.  I know I am wounded as if by You for some reason, for all things come from and through You.  I know I can trust you.  So, tell me, show me, teach me.  I wait on You.  I will keep praising you, just as I’m doing now.  I’m hurting.  I’m confused.  Still, I worship You, because you are good.  I worship you because you are faithful, merciful, and your sweet love endures forever.”

The kind of worship that moves the heart of God.  Authentic.  Real.  Questioning.  Confused.  Angry.  Respectful.  Energized and real worship comes from that place deep within us that communes with God.

These are undeveloped thoughts from reading this week.  They are unfinished and wordy because I’m sifting thoughts.  In any case, the thoughts are convicting to me.   Read the Psalms…not just one, but several, one after the other, like a movie rather than like a short story.  Then, compare your worship.  

What Not to Clean

My kids and I were laughing about what praise songs I should NOT sing yesterday, I was joking with them in my raspy-whisper (much better yesterday, but still not great).  On the top of our charts for songs Mom should NOT sing were “Shout to the North”,  “I Will Not Keep Silent” (I think that’s a line, not the title, but anyway), and “Louder than the Angels”.

What was the first song in our set Sunday?  “Louder than the Angels”.  We all cracked up when it started, me included, and I was playing it.  I moved my mouth, but can guarantee that nothing came out of it! 

Last night I slept well, strange, considering I’d napped a couple time soundly yesterday.  This virus really pulls a person down.  I thought I was getting over it, and did feel better, but so dad-gum tired!  

Today, I only took a short nap half way through Deuteronomy.  I’ve done fairly well, except that A.)  walking around stirs air that hits my throat…not good  2.)  I can’t clean much for the dust (I’m grieving, people), and 42.)  I’m a little rattled.  Or was that F.)?  Anyway…I’m just not good for much.

I do have more voice back today.  I would be happy to hack in your ear in a most lady-like fashion.  {Sorry}.

Red woke very cranky this morning.  I expected his teacher to call today with him not feeling well.  I’ve prepared myself to go get him.   Seems he has a great understanding of feeling pretty good on the weekends and then being unbearably irritable on Monday morning.  He’s learned early, eh?

In closing, I was inspired by Big Mama’s closet revamp she posted today.  You ought to check that out.  That is just something else.  I’m totally inspired to clean my closet…well, when I’m not hacking my blessed head off!

Trying…

Today was a very trying day.  Sleep was hard to come by last night.  The dog barked ALL night.

Morning brought SVT with my heart, lateness for field trip with son, phone calls, drama I hate with that whole irritation.  God helped me recover twice as fast as usual and I was on my way…a praise.

The day went well, our group was well behaved.  I kept hearing, “Bandaids, bandaids, bandaids” before I’d left home. Good thing…I used all six today with kidss sandals and hurting feet.

 I had some spiritual frustration with the trip that bummed me out toward the end…more on that later, perhaps. 

We shopped and found my 11 yr. old  son a Colts football for very little at a sports store, and a new pair of tennis shoes.  His birthday is soon.  Aa friend and his Mom were along.  

I’ve never had a mother and son shopping date with him…it was really fun, and her son kept saying so, “This has been FUN!”  I was glad.

I was not able to speak much at all past about noon the laryngitis was so bad.

The amalgamation of the meds and a sleepless night, about 40 miles from home, I feel asleep driving.  75 miles an hour heading straight toward the guardrail.  The other mom, spoke my name kindly, and I woke when the tires hit the sliced warning zone on the blacktop, I really had to correct quickly to keep from hitting the guardrail soundly at a bad angle.  I had to correct 3 and a half times, with her saying my name with more and more urgency and the boys beginning to say, “Mom!  What’s wrong!?  What’s wrong?!”  Three were three vehicles not far behind me…  I handled the van very well.  

The meds from the cold, my heart, and my back, a very sleep-interrupted night from the dog barking most of the night, this “croup” thing…I was so worn down.   I knew I was fighting to stay alert, but I think not being able to converse through me into a caccoon.  I’m sorry I even tried. 

Oh, Lord.  Thank you. 

Lord God, you are so good to have a traveling companion for me.  I let her take the wheel after that.

I did not feel up to the challenge of trying to communicate again tonight at Fall Festival and just feel very low.  My spirit is frustrated.  I need to walk Daisy, and I don’t feel up to that either.  And it is getting dark.  Some apple cider and take my temp.

But, God is good.  I do trust Him.  He is always with me.  Always helping.  Always there, through it all.   I know I was supposed to be there with my son today for spiritual reasons, to teach him some important things (I’ll share later perhaps).  I am so glad the Lord literally “took the wheel”.

Will anyone ever trust me to drive?  I hope so.  I do trust myself…I think.  I don’t know.  I’m too tired to answer that question at the moment.  I guess I need to learn what it’s like to be too sleepy to drive.  Having nodded off twice in the last five years, and having had the Lord’s help, I hope I now know how sleepy is too sleepy.  Lord Jesus…stay near me.

How Long Do You Pray Every Week?

Lately, I have tired of the statistics of how long the average person spends in prayer.  I am also somewhat uneasy by the term “quiet time”.  Yes!  Both of these reap valuable information that should cause us to self examine. 

But, perhaps this line of reasoning may help explain part of my discomfort.   When in college, I was asked to help do research for a study to determine the average length of a familial conversation.  Ot, from beginning to end, how many conversations family members had, and the length of those conversations, during their days.   Ready, set, start documenting your daily conversations, with whom, and for how long.

Geuss what?  The results of the study failed miserably.

Several reasons.   Perhaps a description of a “family conversation: describes it better:

Husband, walking in door:  “Hey, hon!”  with a quick kiss.

Child #1 runs up, “Hi Daddy!” with a hug.

While child #2 runs in: “Guess what happened today!”

Wife says, “How was your day?”

Wife says to child #3, “I told you to get the table cleaned off.”

Child #2 says, “I hurt my foot today!”

Hubby says:  “I’ve got to go to the bathroom and I’ll return”.

Was there conversation happening?

No one seemed to respond to anyone else.  No question got answered, there was no direct reply to anything said. 

BUT, there was interaction and response.  There was LIFE.

I don’t want to under-estimate the value of quiet time spend with God.  I don’t want to undervalue the need for prayer.  But, what scares me is that I hear people say, “Yes, there are weeks I go by and only pray twice.”  or “I can’t remember my last quiet time.”

What would you say of a family who lived together and said, “I can’t remember the last time we spoke.  In fact, I can’t remember the last time we were together.”

Our time with God, with our Father, with the power behind our life, is central to life.  It is our LIFE.  It is the air we breathe.  It is freedom, constant direction, encouragement, flow, interaction, communion, substanance. 

I will be the first to say, there are times I need to get away and just still my heart…yes!  In that case, I need a “quiet time”.  But, that does not define my life with my Lord.  It is a crazed love affair grabbing every conversation, interaction, idea, and direction.  It is life.

That is what he intended it to be.  Would we ask two young lovers, “What goal do you have for time to spend together each week?” 

Probably not.   They LONG for that time together…constantly talking, exchanges ideas, feelings, thoughts, breaths.  They just want to be together.  Never would they say, “Oh, I keep forgetting about that ‘time thing’!” 

I mean…yeah, if you are struggling with the discipline or certain habits or need refreshing goals can be helpful, we have goals for marriage at times to brush up…but, on the other hand….let’s not reduce God to a statistic!  Let’s let him be what he longs to be, our very life! 

Mid-day Prayer

Meaningful…

give me something heaped with meaning!

Suprise me…

surprise me with REAL LIFE!

Beautiful…

amaze me with Your beauty!

Stun me…

stun me with delight!

Invite me…

seat me at your banquet table

Feast with me…

finest of foods that satisfy

Look at me…

though I am weary

Energize me…

with YOUR LIFE!

Song of Solomon 2:4
He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

My Little Review of Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies

I posted several quotes meaningful from Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott.  As I said in one of the other posts, the book is due back today, for the 3-4 renewal.  It was actually due on Monday, but Monday wasn’t a good day for me to go to the library, nor was Tuesday.  I want to model responsibility, but frankly, I was just not in a mood to be “out in town” with kids on those days.  We needed some rest.  I wasn’t in a mood to be “out in town” at all, much less with the kids.

So, today is the day.  No, I’m not finished with the book entirely, but I think I breezed through the best of the last third. 

Do I think the book is worth reading or buying?  I don’t know.  Depends on what you like and need. 

I posted a few of the quotes that really stood out to me the most.  Otherwise, the rawness and language is generally a bit much for me…but, she pulls it off somehow.  It rests well on her because I don’t position her as a person of Christian authority or leadership, just an authentic person feeling her way in her own personal journey, and sharing that in a raw and real way.   

I sense that many Christian leaders have perhaps equated athenticity with bad habits of language, with actually presents itself in bad taste for me.  So, I’m not condoning that at all.  One has to be careful with taking a cool person and trying to mimic their coolness, as usual.  But, I do like Anne’s style and the way she presented the book.

I needed to hold onto some of the thoughts, so well expressed and articulated, and am glad I am now a couple hours behind after having decided that, yes, it was worth my time to go back and take a few notes on my “dog-eared” pages.

Blessings,

~Maggie  

Author, Anne Lamott, on Aging

But if the fortune of the girl is in the newness, in being the bud, and the fortune of the crone is in the freedom, the lack of attachment or clinging, where does that leave a youngish middle-aged American woman like me?  Maybe it leaves me needing to consider how wealthy I am in the knowledge that the girl of my past is still in me while a marvelous dreadlocked crone is in the future–and that I hold both of these females inside.  Coming out of the movie that night, I realize that I want what the crones have:  time for all those long deep breaths, time to watch more closely, time to learn to enjoy what I’ve always been afraid of–the sag and the invisibility, the ease of understanding the life is not about doing.  The crones understand this, and it gives them all kinds of time–time to get much less done, time for all these holy moments.  So I’ve been thinking about how, realistically, I am probably not going to lose five pounds before I see the guy I like again, or have a little canopy above my eyes snipped off.  And how what I am going to do instead is to begin practicing cronehood as soon as possible:  to watch, smile, dance. 

–Anne Lamott from Traveling Mercies:  Some Thoughts on Faith, p 233, large print edition (not because I’m that hard of seeing yet, but because it’s all the library had, not that I care one way or another what you think, or maybe I do), c 1999.

Sunday–Thank You for your timely words…

The fruit of righteousness will be PEACE the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence FOREVER.

Isaiah 32:17 (NIV)

Lord, thank you for a nap.  Thank you for Tylenol.  Thank you for fresh and delicious [!!!!!! WOW] corn from the garden, first time today…you should be very jealous (even if you don’t like corn on the cob). 

Lord, thank you for the challenge of your word. 

Peace. 

Quiet… inside and out. 

Confidence….forever.

Again….17And the effect of righteousness will be peace [internal and external], and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. (Isa. 32:17 AMP)

Lord, thank you for different versions of your word, and for verses that hit my mind “at just the right time” to re-minister and bring focus to me.  Thank you for note cards from days past read and re-read that spring to mind when I’m needy. 

Thank you for opportunities to serve and love you to the fullest.  Over and over…that is the joy! 

Thank you for your deep pleasure and abiding joy over us…and in us. 

Thank you for the indwelling love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentlness, and self control that are the fruit of the Spirit…YOU!!!

You reign.  You reign.  You REIGN!  Keep reigning, and reign me in!

How good it is when you do! 

Continue to reign!  As you will. 

YOU REIGN.

1AM is … Random

It’s 1AM.  I’m still up.  I’m not very sure why.  I was practicing some music after tending to the kids until 11.  Then…it was 12, and now, it is 1. 

I think it just crave some quiet “me” time. 

Soon, hubby will crawl out of his hole known as “sleep”, growl at me for staying up all hours of the night, on the internet, at that, and it will bust my precious and protected little happy bubble.

So, with that, I retire for the evening, with the taste of chocolate chip granola bars (2) satisfying a late night hunger.  Mmmm.  Brushing one’s teeth should never take away the taste of sweet granola and chocolate chip. 

And, while I’m here, with a few precious seconds to speak randomly (as I’m sure all of cyberspace is waiting up until 1AM to read), I was just wondering if anyone else finds it annoying to find people’s links to put them into posts–I’m struggling with the chore. 

I mean, not to complain…okay, I’m complaining, but there I am, flying along, typing in my stream of consciousness sort of way, and I have stop or go back to find a link,…it just totally spoils my spelling and grammar challenged perfectly poised and natural flow. 

Secondly, do some of these daily things feel like homework to anyone?  I love the community I see on others blogs by doing Monday Marriage and Tuesday Something T, and Wordless Wednesday and Thankful Thursday and Frisky Friday…oh, well, it’s probably not “frisky”, but anyway…(maybe it should be!) 

Actually, I’ve thought about a personal day-of-the-weekmemonic to help me with some disciplines internally too, for a season.  It might be fun.  But, I never want it to feel like…well, drudgery or homework.  You know Monday-Memorize, Tuesday– T_______,  Wednesday–Worship/Willing Heart, Thursday–Thankful, Friday– Forgive.

Okay, so I’m up at 1AM to write THAT.  So…Goodnight!

Oh!  Brainstorm (see, good things happen at 1AM)  Would you read below and consider picking up the “Pray for Carmen” button (copy and paste into your sidebar widget)?  Spinal infections just sound pretty horribly scarey to me.  Thanks!  Maggie 

How to get the button:  Insert this code into your blog’s html widget (for blogger users).  When people click it, it should take them to posts updating on her condition and prayer needs:

<p style=”text-align:center;”><a href=”http://5purposedriven.wordpress.com/tag/pray-for-carmen/”><img width=”207″ src=”http://5purposedriven.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/pray-for-carmen-copy2.jpg” alt=”pray-for-carmen-copy2.jpg” height=”337″ style=”width:92px;height:142px;” /></a></p>
STEAL THIS BUTTON!

Ode to Summer-ness

It’s June and I’m just entering summer…what it needs to be, for me.

What it is not, for many people.

Some keep working, keep going, dip a few times in the pool, and they’ve had summer.

I need to sit on the beach, in the sun, in my chair, think some reflective and deep thoughts, read some profound ones, think my thoughts from a bit of a different slant, not think at all, get too hot, get my feet in the water, get too hot again, get my legs in the water, get very hot and wish my head was wet, but not really want to get my hair all wet for fear I will look gross, it will smell like water, and I will need a shower, which would have cooled me off cleanly, inside, much more effeciently, but eventually decide that the water is warm enough and I am desperate enough to dive in, and not really care about my hair anymore, before or after.

Yesterday, my daughter had a little friend over, and I was supervising them VERY closely on the pool slide (not stitches on Red last Sunday).  I got REALLY sleepy before the slide was inflated, had napped some, off and on, laid out, without sunscreen, not because I don’t fear cancer very much, but just because I was too tired and feeling too risky to apply it with my usual diligence.  And it was HOT.

But, I needed to be near Red, so I rested outside in the sun rather than in the cool, artificial air conditioning of the inside.

And after four trial “dips” cooling various bodily regions of marginal effectiveness, I decided that the water was warm enough that I needed to dive in and get cool…and if it was too cold, I’d just hop back out until it was too hot and I’d be okay.

I dove in, three times, yesterday.  And to find that the water was not shockingly cold anymore, and that it was refreshing, and that I could get too hot and too cold and be okay and refreshed was…somehow refreshing.

I napped probably four times off and on yesterday…Father’s Day turned out to be busy and filled with plans for everyone…without me…thankfully.  And I rested.  I slept, and slept and slept.  Thought a bit about rest and only got confused and napped some more.

Went to sleep at 10 with my lonely girl and slept on a mattress, on the floor, my head hanging off it at an unusual angle with blood falling to my head, and just kept sleeping everytime this became an rather odd acknowledgement.

And I slept until 8:30.  I got up, unusually, before everyone else…a new child in the mix now…all still sleeping, praise God. 

It was raining, unforecast.  I pulled the kids bikes into the garage, in my PJs and I got wet, only I didn’t want to be early morning wet.  But, I grabbed my super soft fluffy red robe from winter, and sat on the porch in the summer rain with a cup of OJ, a casual read book, and I read.  And I napped again.

Red got up and tried to talk to me while I was reading and I really didn’t hear much of what he was rambling in that early morning, nonsensical, kid ramble about odd things that happens in the AM.  Eventually, he came up to me and said, “Blah, Boo, Ha, Gug”, and I knew he needed something.  He looked at me.  He needed me now, now that his nonsense made more sense to me than anything he tried to describe in his deep morning thoughts all morning.  I moved my book as he snuggled in close on the short little wicker love seat.  It screaked and popped, but we were comfie.

No sooner had I thought, “This is bliss”, than he held out his arms straight out, toward the rain, spreading them wider and wider.   Then, he curdled, and his little albino back popped. 

He commentated the obvious to me, “I was just stretching”, in sort of a sleepy voice.  He laid there two more seconds, and got up.  I said, “Where are you going?”  He said, “I forgot to pee this morning.” 

Something about a verbose morning, and a hug, and a stretch, and a back pop, helped him remember what he really needed to do.

I can identify.  

I’ve needed a lot of things to “get my stretch out”, and my back pop, and my rest this week.  I’ve gone from thinking I had a lot to say to feeling like I had nothing but the “blah, ugh. eck. la, bleck” left.  And I’ve had what I’ve entered into summer rest where there are just a couple days where there was a “pause, selah”, and no new huge weights to carry.

And it feels good. 

My hair is messy, my kids friends note it. 

They say, “Your hair… is messt!”  And…I am proud of this state.

Time to shed the fuzzy red robe and the wild hair and get cleaned up to make the pancakes. 

Thank you, Lord…for a raining, wet morning when I didn’t want to get wet, but needed to.  And for the oasis of a really slow and precious morning.

Maggie

Electrocution Is A Must

Let’s just say…um, I’m now in favor of electrocution in addition to poisoning…in this case.   I

 read about these and thought you could only find them for about $20.00 online.  I was never more delighted than to find one at RiteAid on my third trip for products in the last 24 hours…they  got my $30.00.  

My child and I now have a new way to define good, fun, quality time. 

Let’s see:  the exact phrase was, “Let me have that thing…I want REVENGE!”

Name That Post #2

Well, it’s noon Saturday and I’m just eating my chocolate bran breakfast muffin, if that tells you anything about the work caused by our little problem.   We’ve gone through every suspect school-friend carrier we know who have visited toward the end of the school year.  We think we have tracked it back to a possible host–not that we are blaming…just needing to get a grip.  Did you know I spent $60.00 at the pharmacy last night and will likely need to do it again in a week just to be sure?  Whew.

Let’s just say that my love vibes are flowing to my mother today.  My mother went through this with me once, and though I remember her stern, “Would you PLEASE BE STILL!”.  Bless her loving heart for the pains she went through for me.   Seems she pulled one of those “I seriously hope one day you have to go through this with your children” speeches, too.   Um, did I mention she’s having to treat herself as well?    She never should have said that!  {deviously smiling}.  Sorry, Mom!   I love you!

Well folks, laundry is streaming to me in tidal waves out the laundry room door well through the living room.  It’s going to be another long day.  

Did I mention I have a child’s birthday party scheduled here for tomorrow?  Although, I think the guest list just took care of itself, so I don’t think I’ll have to worry too much about the overall appearance of things.

Sigh.  My flowers are so pretty.  Sorry you’ll all miss them!

PS:  Please note my new commenting policy on Askimet captured comments in the sidebar.  I’m having to put the ball in your court…SO sorry, but necessary.