Neak,
Our thoughts are better turned to what the good angels would prompt us to do.

Don't let the other thoughts have room in your head.

Not what was going on in either house then, but what is needed today - And the joy to be found tomorrow.

SS

SS - you are perfectly right of course. This has been one of my big struggles, much too long to delve into right now but I will try and comment further in the next day or so.

On a lighter note, here is a picture of Neaksis.

Here is a picture of Neaksis working up on the roof.

It brings to mind all sorts of classic lyrics... "Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset, swiftly go the years..."

And another favorite.....

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch..."

Brought to you courtesy of the world-reknowned musical, "Neaksis on the Roof".

Boy, is Neaksis going to be peeved when she sees the picture we used! She thinks it makes her look haggard and old, but the good ones that my friend scanned for me are in some format that Yahoo pictures can't use, so we were reduced to making do with what was available.

Doesn't really look like the Spawn of Satan, does she? An evil, devious woman who would callously steal the children of an unsuspecting, trusting mother, all under the guise of Christian friendship? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I realize I've been preaching for several months now, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but in her case, unlike mine at that stage <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />, both the cover AND the pages tell the same story.

t&l

t&l's identity jack, redux

I agree that it would be detrimental on many levels to dwell on what was happening in the house full of demonic voyeurs, but I'm not so sure but that there isn't valuable comfort and reassurance to be found in permanently retaining a mental image of your guardian angel keeping vigil with you during a time of great distress and discouragement. To treasure in your heart that awareness of protection and companionship when you are otherwise all alone would seem to me to be a powerful encouragement to endure the next time something happens that leaves you feeling abandoned and low.

t&l

She's beautiful!!!! and the picture is great.

When my twins were born, friends of my mother's would come to visit and, practcally ignoring me, would congratulate HER on how beautiful the babies were!

I was a bit offended .

t&L, I have to congratulate you and HP for such beautiful girls! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Then you'd really like (I think, but I could be prejudiced, since I'm the mother of the author! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />) Neak's next book, Peter, Fisher of Men. I don't know how to make it available here without worrying that the moderators will consider it to be making unfair commercial use of the board. I guess the best way, if even that works, would be to let anyone who wanted it have it at our cost plus postage, so that nobody could say she's trying to make money off MB. I'd love to just give one to everybody who asked, but I don't make THAT much money, assuming more than one or two wanted to read it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> It also deals with the supernatural a lot, and researching it, and writing it in many ways prepared her to be faithful in prayer when all that A stuff went down.

t&l

And what was wrong with that? What did YOU do, after all? I mean, besides conceive, carry, and birth them? Your dear mother did everything else...you know, all the important stuff, like preen, brag, glow, etc. After all, the person who carries the heaviest load should get the most praise. Just wait till Neak finds out what kind of gifts I'm expecting after the Neaklet is born and it's time for my rewards for all that hard work I'm going to be doing! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Wouldn't the book be available in Amazon?

I'd like to read it, but when will it be published?

BTW I tried Lady Clueless's eggplant recipe and it was very good!!!!
Everyone liked it.

That's a good question. I'm almost done editing it, but the cover art people (and they know who they are!) <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> are "progressing" (if it could be called that) VERY slowly. I had hoped by Christmas, but now I'm thinking it's going to be February or so before this particular rabbit is pulled out of the hat.


I am SO glad. Really I am. Now she can have the satisfaction of knowing her recipe was appreciated and enjoyed without any eggplant fragments having to pass my personal lips! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Thank you, cc46. Thank you.

t&l

T&L - I think it would be okay to give the name of the book, so we could watch for it. After all, Neak is one of the citizens of Idiotville.

True. Does Idiotville have a book store, by any chance? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Or is it just bars, strip joints, and a library? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

t&l

I'll have you know there are MUCH better pictures of myself available...just not very many of them. Cameras don't like me! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Oh, quit whining. Even haggard and old, with a bag over your head on a dark night, you're still cute enough to get by! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Signed,

Your Mother

Yep, there is a bookstore, and even a lady that works there, but I forget who.

Morning/evening ..how are you t&l, and B, neak, and everyone.

hows everyone?

Loved the photos!

What on earth does neaksis mean when she thinks it makes her look old & haggard??? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Goodness ........ wait until shes my age!! The she'll know what old & haggard is <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

AW -

Hi again. I'll let you know that I'm older and haggardier than the two of you added together.

Dang, wish these young'ins would quit complaining.

T&L,
You don't have to keep telling her she is good looking. Maybe she'll be quiet if you start agreeing with her. Beauty is soooo wasted on the young.

SS

Don't 'believe' it B!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

MUST MUST MUST get to bed, but I will allow myself one brief comment. SS and Mom, I hope you don't think you are (ever so cordially) disagreeing with each other. You're not - you're both entirely and 100% right.

Regarding demonic voyeurs, while I don't think they should occupy any significant part of our thoughts, if, when we were being tempted, we kept some awareness that unseen eyes were watching, and that if we gave in to sin that our enemies would openly laugh us to scorn and use us as an excuse to heap scorn upon our Savior, we would certainly think twice.

And realizing that I was never alone through this whole ordeal has been comforting, and will continue to be for the rest of my life.

However, SS has quite correctly guessed that both viewpoints, (and of course many less supernatural thoughts from that time period) take up way more of my mind than they should. My whole brain is still almost totally mired in the muck, despite valiant efforts to lift it out.

AJ has been superb in his efforts, and can do nothing further to help except to keep on doing more of the same. The best I've been able to tell so far, my main job is to keep stepping out of the way of the heavenly bulldozer and let it continue to clean up the mess for me, since it's much bigger than I can do myself. I think some days I squat right in front of the dozer tires with my trowel, scooping one teeny bit at a time into a wheelbarrow, when God wants me to move and let Him at it with all the resources at His disposal. Easier said than done.

Stepping out of the way and letting God work is so hard.
I keep shovelling the mess of the tyres and hosing it off and at times feel like I’m just treading water and eventually it will pull me under.
A sense of failure is sometimes hard to avoid.
Aussie has held me up when I wavered and felt weak and I know he loves me now despite everything.
He’s a pretty wonderful man.

I'm pretty sure God is saying VERY loudly to me to give Him my fears, grief and remorse. Its as hard to give up the pain as it is to seek comfort..isn't that strange?