Good Enough

It may not look good but it still tastes good.

I’m not a perfectionist.  In my view O.K. is good enough.  My excuse for not cleaning house perfectly is that I want others to feel better about their house cleaning when they compare it to mine.  Would Jesus want you to iron the tablecloth or to read the Word? 

Here is my ammunition for my argument.  One of my favorite teachings in the Bible is Luke 10: 42 when Jesus said, “…but few things are needed or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”  To me this means-- don’t make a big fancy meal—just throw together a sandwich.  Spending time in the Word is better than fussing. But of course there may be some people who enjoy making things complex.

Now, there was my dad who wanted to have Christmas cookies baked.  My mom never got around to it, so he baked them himself.  Chris wanted our house decorated for Christmas in “Better Homes and Gardens” style.  I couldn’t physically do the work, and besides I wouldn’t enjoy doing it, so he hired my cousin’s daughter to help him.  They had a great time!

Although, sometimes my casual style gets me into trouble.  When our son, Jes, was learning to drive, I had him drive me to Eastern Washington to visit our daughter, his sister, in college.  We carelessly parked near the administration building on the campus.  When we came back to the car we had a parking ticket.  Times have changed and colleges try to make money any way they can. (Don’t tell your dad Jes. He would have checked the parking rules and parked a mile away if he had to.)

 We then decided to check out the stadium.  We found a free parking space and decided to hike up the hill to the stadium.  Unfortunately, the hill was all mud. Our shoes were caked by the time we got to the top.  (Don’t tell your dad Jes. He would have noticed the mud.)

When we packed to return home I had neglected to put my hair mousse in a plastic bag and it suddenly released all of it contents. (Don’t tell your dad Jes. He would have made sure it was in a plastic bag.)

Jes said, “We may get into more trouble with mom, but we have more fun.” Not stressing over things is more calming and makes for more enjoyment. Chalk it up to living and learning.  Next time we won't make the same mistakes.

Enter the computer—unfortunately the e-mail address has to be correct or the mail won’t go anywhere.  This is one thing that I have had to work on.  The computer isn’t smart enough yet to find the correct address for me.  But I am so happy that the computer is able to correct spelling and typos if it isn’t a real word.  My 23 words per minute with 23 mistakes is completely cleaned up by the computer!  Now, if I had a robot to go around with me and quietly help me I would be set.

So, there is a delicate balance between carelessness and perfectionism. Another favorite verse of mine is Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  It is more important to have peace in your life than to do everything perfectly. Trust God to help you as you grow and learn.

If we fail to do everything perfectly let it go. Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. We will learn from our mistakes and do better next time.  

“…but few things are needed or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her

Fifty Years And Counting

 50th wedding anniversary party at Martha Lake Covenant Church

Sometimes I wish I could have a "do over" of my life. My favorite movies are those in which the protagonist gets a “do over.”  “Groundhog's Day” was all about learning to look to the interests of other people.  In the movie the central character finally figures out what he must do, and then was able to move on with his life. 

Hallmark has produced several movies about do over’s including: 

• “I Do, I Do, I Do”  
• “Christmas Do Over” 

Time travel movies fascinate me because one could go back and change something that would improve the future.  Movies I have enjoyed include:

• “The Family Man” 
• “Click” 
• “Time Travelers Wife” 
• “The Lake House,” 
• “Back To The Future” 
• "Dimensions" 
• “Frequency”

Also there are TV shows depicting time travel such as:

•  “Continuum” 
• "Sliders”   
• “Quantum Leap”  

But of course we only get one chance at this life with nary a do over.  We can learn from the mistakes of others and from our own mistakes.  Hopefully we do not repeat them. 

Chris and I have been married for just over 50 years.  How we came to be married and continued to stay married has been due to a comedy of errors and by the grace of God.  Possibly, if I had done things differently between the ages of 18 and 21, I wouldn’t have made so many mistakes during our marriage.  So I like to imagine a “do over” for that time period.

When I was graduated from Groveton high school in Alexandria, VA. at 17, my plan was to go to college, and room with my cousin, Dorothy, who had graduated from her high school in Fairbanks, Alaska.  While I can’t remember all the conflicts we had when we roomed together I do remember the clothes-borrowing problem.

While living at home I had enjoyed helping myself to my sister, Evy’s clothes.  She took responsibility and went shopping and bought clothes, while I didn’t shop.  She was gracious and never complained when I borrowed her things. At one point she bought herself a bicycle.  I didn’t buy myself a bicycle.  I could always borrow hers, my mom’s, or my brother Jay’s. 

Such was the mentality that I had when I arrived at college.  I admired Dorothy’s clothes and asked her if I could borrow a skirt here and there. She agreed for a while but soon became annoyed.  One time I was wearing Dorothy’s skirt when I was going on a date with another girl and 2 boys who were traveling from a nearby college.  She found me in the other girl’s room and asked for her skirt back.  I took it off and gave it to her.  I then borrowed a skirt from the other girl.  If I had it to do over again I would have shopped for my own clothes and not borrowed Dorothy’s, (or anybody else’s).

Also, one time, during the summer before college, my Uncle Ernie told me that I must develop a passion to study something. So, I developed a passion for boys and studied them quite a bit.  If I had to do it over again I would have studied more dance. I would have worked toward the goal of teaching children to dance, and choreographing for plays and musical stage productions.  I loved “putting on shows” as a child.

I could continue on with story after story; but I think that it is sufficient to say that when Chris and I were married at 22, our wedding day, and our years of marriage, could have been a lot less stressful.  During our 50 years we have had times of tension.  When two flawed people marry, what else can be expected?  But through counseling, prayer, Bible study, and learning to forgive, we have stayed married.

Our recent anniversary party given to us by our children, and their spouses, was a special time. It was lovingly and beautifully executed.  We had a beloved brother and family, grandchildren, cousins and spouses, nieces, and friends travel to share in our celebration. God has blessed us in tremendous ways.  I give Him all the thanks and glory!

I Up Chucked At Planned Parenthood

With all the talk about Planned Parenthood condoning the horrendous slaughter of babies, and selling of baby parts, I was mortified that I had used their services as a young newly married woman.

When Chris and I first married and didn’t have high paying jobs, I tried to save money.  One way I thought to do this was to go to Planned Parenthood for birth control products.  Spokane, Washington had a clinic on the north side of town.  I began going there for birth control pills.

Later when my mom was visiting from California, I showed her the pills.  She didn’t look happy but didn’t say anything.  Shortly after she went home she began sending me newspaper articles on how dangerous birth control pills were. The articles reported that they probably caused cancer.  I got nervous so decided to go to PP and have an IUD inserted.

After working all day, I ate dinner at home, and then drove to PP.  Nobody asked if I had eaten.  Apparently one doesn’t need an empty stomach when having an IUD inserted.  Unfortunately, I was one of the few who couldn’t handle such a thing.  My dinner came up into the nearest plastic container after the invader was rammed in.  I called Chris to come and get me, as I didn’t think I could drive home.  After months of heavy bleeding I went to my gynecologist to have the IUD removed.  I had no vomiting that time. Foolishly, I went back to PP for a diaphragm.  I was fitted with one too large.  If you have ever had to insert a sailing ship into a bottle you know that it can’t be done except in pieces.  After getting the thing in I couldn’t get it out.  After much prayer and stress I went back to my gynecologist and got the proper size. 

I will not recommend PP to anyone.  I believe because of the lack of respect for human life in selling parts of babies, and because of the sub standard treatment I received, Planned Parenthood should be defunded by the U.S. government.

update--Mollie Hemingway reported on the PP protests, Saturday, August 22, 2015

What Just 1 Of Those 320 Planned Parenthood Protests Looked Like

Once again the media failed to adequately cover a massive pro-life demonstration. Here's some of what they missed.

AUGUST 24, 2015 By Mollie Hemingway

People who oppose Planned Parenthood’s practice of selling organs and body parts from the unborn children whose lives they end showed up at 320 of the abortion corporation’s facilities across the country on Saturday. Despite the newsiness and far-reaching national nature of the protest action, media coverage was extremely sparse. Here is what just one of the nearly 320 Planned Parenthood protests looked like. The crowd pictured here, which had more than 850 people in it, spread across three streets and across intersections at the clinic in Falls Church, Virginia. No mainstream reporters were at the protest, despite hundreds of political and cultural reporters working nearby.

Mollie Ziegler Hemingway is a senior editor at The Federalist. Follow her on Twitter at@mzhemingway

aborted baby parts Baby Organ Trafficking Planned Parenthoodpro-life movement

Another Good Message

Bishop E.W. Jackson, Founder and President of S.T.A.N.D., and pastor in Virginia, hits the nail on the head in advance of the Republican Debates to be broadcast on Fox News tonight.

God Bless Dr. Ben Carson

The You Tube above is Dr. Carson's 15 minute speech at the Urban League July 31, 2015.  I hope and pray that minds and hearts can be changed through him.